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Van-Art Expression was founded by Michelle in 1994 to offer art therapy services to clients
in the security and comfort of their own living space. The business evolved from Michelle's internship at BC Children's Hospital.
She constantly found herself traveling from room to room with her art supplies to work with patients. She fell in love with
the challenge of creating a "therapeutic workspace" for each person she saw, and faced that challenge every day, as she still
does.
When Michelle graduated and entered into the Art Therapy profession, she acknowledged that many individuals
in the community with special needs situations were not able to receive therapeutic intervention due to their condition(s).
The decision came naturally, that if the client could not come to her office, she would find a way to make the office come
to them. Thus, Van- Art Expression was born.
Since that time Michelle's contract base has expanded. She has done specialty
work for companies like ICBC and the Ministry for Children and Families as well as private contracts dealing with grieving
children and terminally ill adults.
In March of 1998, Michelle's husband, Brian Deo, joined the company and brought
with him his many amazing skills as a music therapist and compassionate caregiver. Brian too understood the importance of
offering an on location based service as he had had similar experiences while interning at Lion's Gate Hospital and the North
Shore Stroke Recovery Centre. Brian's strong musical background of piano, drums and vocals added depth to the company, allowing
it to continue to expand by offering the client base more therapeutic choices to aid in their healing and ongoing metal, physical
and emotional health
Michelle and Brian specialize in several areas of therapeutic care. Brian's clientele includes
people with autism, stroke recovery, general dementia & Alzheimer's, as well as working with children with special needs
and behavior difficulties. Michelle 's practice is focused on work with special needs adults with mental health problems as
well as the expansion of in the areas of grief and loss and chronic and terminal illness. In addition, Michelle sometimes
takes on childrens' cases which tend to be unique in nature and which may need the special touch of expressive therapies intervention.
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