Irene Renzenbrink, PhD

Working in the field of death, dying and bereavement was very demanding and I knew that I needed a change in order to restore my health and well-being. While living in Saskatchewan, I embarked on a new career phase combining my counselling skills and practice wisdom with arts-based methods. After completing the advanced diploma program at VATI in 2012, I went on to study at the European Graduate School in Switzerland, graduating magna cum laude from their doctoral program in expressive arts therapy in 2016.

Making sense of grief, loss and trauma through the senses, art making and meaningful conversation provides a healing path for those willing to engage their creative imagination in life and work. We also need to recognize that we in this work are wounded healers and must take care to renew ourselves. Art therapy and expressive arts therapy provide the perfect vehicle.

Irene has taught the Art of Loss course at VATI for the past 6 years. Apart from social work and art therapy she has studied philosophy, existentialism, Jungian dream work and poetry. Her book, An Expressive Arts Approach to Healing Loss and Grief: Working Across the Spectrum of Loss with Individuals and Communities was published by Jessica Kingsley in 2021.

Credentials: BA. Dip Soc Studs, M.Soc. Admin, DVATI, PhD