Michelle Winkel

Michelle Winkel is a therapist, author, art therapist, and clinical supervisor with over thirty years of experience working directly with groups, families, individuals, and organizations. Michelle’s commitment to art therapy, education, and creativity has inspired her life’s journey to positively impact the world through sharing her teachings, publishing her findings, developing programs, and founding the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy.

During the pandemic, Michelle noticed a decline in the overall wellness and well-being of her art therapy clients, friends, and family. This visible decline inspired her to collect the wisdom and research of the leading authors working in art therapy. As part of her journey to spread creativity and wellness, Michelle became the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy (CiiAT). She designed and developed CiiAT’s innovative Virtual Art Therapy Clinic in 2020 as a response to the Covid -19 pandemic. The Virtual Art Therapy Clinic serves anyone, ages 5-95, seeking to improve their sense of happiness, mental and emotional well-being, and creativity through art psychotherapy.

Her education and passion for teaching have allowed her to travel the world, implement programs, and, of course, create CiiAT. She received her Master’s Degree from Loyola Marymount University and was a Harvard University fellow in Infant-Parent Mental Health, focusing on issues of attachment and dyadic work. After graduating, Michelle became a supervisor at a local school agency in California for five years and co-designed and implemented a reflective practice program alongside the Child Protective Agency to improve the front-line staff’s supervision, performance, and morale. She has presented her expertise on art therapy and supervision internationally, nationally, and locally as an honoured guest speaker, training leader, and conference presenter. Michelle has shared her knowledge of art psychotherapy and its benefits across the globe as an adjunct and visiting professor. She has taught in Japan, Thailand, Egypt, Israel, Canada, and the USA—not forgetting one of her alma maters, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Michelle is immersed in the field of art therapy and involves herself in many capacities, from publishing various topics in art therapy in textbooks and journals to serving on art therapy boards. Her publications aim to share her knowledge and ensure everyone can learn how to heal their stress and struggles through the power of creativity. Michelle is the editor and co-author of Virtual Art Therapy: Research and Practice and is the author, with co-author Dr. Maxine Junge, of Graphic Facilitation and Art Therapy: Imagery and Metaphor in Organizational Development. Currently, she is on the editorial board for the Canadian Journal of Art Therapy: Research, Practice, and Issues. From 2012-2020, Michelle served on the Canadian Art Therapy Association Board of Directors as Education Chair and Vice President. Even with all of her commitments, Michelle still finds time to work on personal art projects and inject moments of creativity into each day—and she encourages you to embrace your creativity and explore the benefits of art therapy.