We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashleigh Gureckas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ashleigh, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve always been drawn to art. As a child, I could sit on the floor and color for hours, lost in a world of imagination and creation. My classmates would copy my drawings—something that frustrated me at the time but, looking back, was maybe an early sign that my creativity held something magnetic. And yet, when it came to choosing a path, I didn’t see art as a profession.

I moved through high school taking art, drama, dance, and attending creative summer camps, but when it was time for university, I chose psychology. Art slowly faded into the background, and I spent years in deeply meaningful but separate roles—teaching English in Japan, working as an outdoor educator—until the world changed.

COVID hit. And something inside me started stirring.

I had briefly researched art therapy in October 2019, just a flicker of curiosity, but it wasn’t until July 2020 that it resurfaced in full force. A series of synchronicities led me back to an old email chain from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. There was a message waiting for me from a woman named Jen—now a good friend and lifelong cheerleader.

“I know you have been thinking about applying to KATI for quite some time,” she wrote. “I trust you have thought about and are prepared to possibly move and start a new program in one month from now.”

One month. A leap into the unknown.

I had to prepare my application in a single weekend, but I didn’t hesitate. I jumped. And when I had my interview with the dean, something shifted. My nervous system, which had been braced for rejection or resistance, softened for the first time in years. I went in afraid I was forcing something that wasn’t meant for me. But by the end, I knew—I wasn’t pushing; I was aligning.

KATI was nothing short of transformative. It tore down everything I thought I knew about myself and rebuilt me through the art. It was brutal and beautiful. And I had support every step of the way. I just wish I had known about art therapy sooner—maybe my journey could have started ten years earlier. But, as I’ve come to realize, the universe’s timing is always right.

My dad believed in that timing too. He drove me 4,000 km across the country to start my new life at KATI—a journey that, in retrospect, feels even more significant now. Because two years later, as I emerged from the program feeling reborn, he passed away. Two weeks after graduation. Unexpectedly.

Grief wrapped around me like a heavy fog as I tried to find my way. My first art therapy job was in elementary schools, making $40 an hour. I cried with excitement—I had made it. But it was part-time, stressful, and my own grief was still raw. When the contract wasn’t renewed, I was faced with a new reality: I had to carve my own path.

At first, I had no idea what that looked like. I just committed to one small thing: making a video every week. The first ones were cringey, a little slow. But I kept going. And then, things took off—fast.

Within four months, doors were opening in ways I never expected. Michaels reached out. I took on a studio sublease. My caseload filled. My membership and workshops sold out. Validation poured in, not just in numbers but in impact. I watched people engaging with my art prompts, creating, transforming. And with every new comment, every piece of art shared back with me, I saw the truth reflected back:

I am an art therapist.

Traditionally, the therapy world shies away from social media. There are so many ethical concerns, so much fear about what we can and can’t offer outside of 1:1 sessions. But I’m stepping into something new—an art therapy content creator, someone bridging the gap between professional expertise and creative accessibility. Even for those who can’t work with me directly, I see the ripple effect. I see my energy moving through the world in the form of all the art being made.

And now, as we near 100K followers, I look back at little me—the one sitting on the floor, coloring for hours, the one who felt outcasted for being too creative, too different.

If I could tell her anything, it would be this:

Creativity always was, and always will be, the way. Your creative power is infinite. The very things that made you feel different are the things lighting the path forward. Keep creating. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

Ashleigh, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For those who may not know me yet, I’m Ashleigh Gureckas, a professional Canadian art therapist, content creator, and educator passionate about making creativity and self-expression accessible to all. My journey into art therapy wasn’t linear—I’ve always been drawn to art, spending hours as a child lost in colours and creation, but I initially pursued psychology in university, leaving art on the sidelines for years.

I found out about art therapy more than a decade later (I wish I knew sooner, but, the universe has its own timing).

Art therapy transformed me. KATI’s training was intense, raw, and deeply personal—it tore down everything I thought I knew about myself and rebuilt me through the art. And just as I was emerging from this process, my world changed again—my dad passed away unexpectedly, just two weeks after my graduation. I was navigating the weight of grief while also trying to find my footing as a new art therapist.

At first, I took a traditional route, working in elementary schools as an art therapist. But the work was part-time, and funding for contracts was uncertain. I knew I needed to carve my own path. So I started making videos—one small creative commitment each week. And that changed everything.

Now, I’ve built a thriving online presence, with nearly 100K followers engaging with my work, from therapeutic art prompts to deep dives into creativity, self-expression, and nervous system regulation through art. I run workshops, memberships, and courses, helping people reconnect with their creativity, process emotions, and access the benefits of art therapy—even if they aren’t working with me 1:1. My work also supports other therapists and creative professionals, helping them integrate art-based approaches into their own practices.

What sets me apart is that I bridge the gap between traditional art therapy and accessible, guided creative experiences. Many therapists shy away from social media due to ethical concerns, but I’m showing that it’s possible to create a ripple effect—to bring art therapy-informed approaches to a wider audience while maintaining integrity, professionalism, and deep respect for the field.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I never set out to become a social media creator. I was just an art therapist trying to find my way after finishing school, grieving the sudden loss of my dad, and navigating the uncertainty of contract-based work. My first art therapy job in elementary schools was exciting at first—$40/hour felt huge—but the work was inconsistent, part-time, and emotionally taxing while I was holding my own grief. When the contract wasn’t renewed, I had to figure out what was next.

At first, I had no grand plan—I just made a commitment to post one video a week. I wasn’t an expert at filming or editing. My early videos? Cringey. Slow. But I showed up anyway. And little by little, I improved.

Then, something clicked.

Within four months, things blew up. My audience grew faster than I ever expected. I was getting DMs from people around the world telling me my art prompts were helping them. Michaels reached out. I took on a studio sublease and filled my caseload. My workshops and memberships sold out. I went from wondering if I could make this work to realizing—this is working.

What I Did That Worked:

Consistency, but in a way that felt doable. One video a week was enough to get momentum without burnout.
Making content that people could actually engage with. Not just “here’s what I do,” but “here’s something you can try right now.”
Embracing imperfection. The polished, perfectly edited videos weren’t what resonated—it was the real, raw, authentic ones that people connected with.
Creating for the long game. I didn’t chase trends or virality. I focused on what I could keep showing up for week after week.
Advice for Those Just Starting
Start before you feel ready. You won’t be amazing at first. You’ll overthink, cringe at your own voice, and want to delete your first posts. Do it anyway.
Stay consistent, but be realistic. Choose a schedule that won’t lead to burnout. If once a week is doable, do that. If it’s once a month, start there.
Give value. What can your audience take away? A tip, a small challenge, an insight? If your content helps them, they’ll stick around.
Engage with your community. Reply to comments, ask questions, and make people feel like part of your world.
Be patient. It took four months for my audience to take off, but that doesn’t mean it’s overnight success. Keep showing up, refining, and adjusting.
Most of all—trust that your unique perspective is worth sharing. The things that set you apart are what will make people stop scrolling. Keep creating, keep sharing, and the right people will find you.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At the heart of everything I do is a simple but powerful mission: to make creativity accessible and to raise the vibration of the universe through healing, self-expression, and creative energy.

I believe that art is for everyone—not just for those who consider themselves “artists,” not just for people with formal training, but for anyone who wants to connect with themselves in a deeper way. Creativity is healing. It’s a form of self-care, a way to process emotions, a tool for self-discovery, and a bridge to peace and joy.

I want to help people soften into their own creative energy, whether it’s through an art therapy prompt, a workshop, or a simple doodle that brings a moment of stillness. I want to break down barriers that make people feel like they’re “not good enough” or that creativity is something reserved for a select few. Because when we create, we heal—not just ourselves, but the world around us.

My goal isn’t just to teach art therapy concepts. It’s to help people experience the magic of making something, of being present in the process, of feeling that quiet, inner joy that creativity brings. Whether it’s through a video, a guided session, or a spontaneous scribble on the back of a napkin, my hope is that every piece of content I put into the world sparks something positive, something expansive, something freeing.

At the core, my work is about raising the vibration—through healing, self-healing, creative energy, peace, and joy. And if even one person feels more connected, more inspired, or more at peace because of something I’ve shared, then I know I’m on the right path.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.discoverarttherapy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discoverarttherapy