Welcome
My name is Ana Karen San Emeterio Castillo (ella/she/her). I am a Mexican art therapist certified by the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute of Canada and a member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA).
I offer art therapy - both online and in-person - to children and adults (Spanish and English speakers) who are struggling with acculturation and migration, survivors of violence, grief, and existential matters (identity, life purpose, social isolation), among others.
Coatepec, Veracruz (Mexico)
My Journey
After studying fine arts, I became an illustrator (see my portfolio here), at the same time I became part of the collective Tejiendo Otro Mundo., a women's collective that promotes human rights of which I was a part for 6 years. I began my path in art therapy when I took a diploma at the Taller Mexicano de Arteterapia (2016-2017). I did my internship in a women's of the National Network of Refuges and later, as part of the Brigadas de Apoyo Arteterapéutico accompanied people affected by the earthquake. Seeking to professionalize my art therapy practice, I went to the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute (2019 -2022). As an Art therapy Intern,I had the opportunity to work with adults in individual and group modalities both online and in person. Within these experiences, I worked at the tertiary care facility Harbor House, the psychiatric ward Daly Pavillion, the retirement home Jubilee Manor, and the affordable housing center for people with disabilities Anderson Gardens. I also worked with children from 5 to 11 years old in individual and group modes. Toward the end of my time as a student in Canada, I worked at the Aimee Beaulieu Transition House as a women's support worker. At the same time, I focused my research on exploring art therapy as a tool for collective care in activism and contributing to the construction of safer art therapy spaces for racialized people.
As a certified art therapist, I have taught online art therapy workshops for art therapy interns at KATI and the Taller Mexicano de Arteterapia A.C. to address the issue of everyday racism, decolonizing art therapy, as well as collective care spaces for people of colour through KATI's platform Inner Compass. At the end of August 2023, I was a guest presenter at the CATA-ACAT 2023 Conference Coming Home: Culture, Hope, and Connection. I am currently an adjunct professor at KATI and I have my private practice in Coatepec, Veracruz (Mexico).
You can find more information in the Services Section. Allow me to walk you through your process. Schedule a free informative consultation!
Approach
I work from a feminist perspective (informed by Abya Yala feminisms) and trauma-informed lens. Aware of how multiple types of oppression and traumatic personal, intergenerational, and collective experiences impact our minds and bodies.
Amapola Arteterapia seeks to build itself day by day as a more anti-racist and anti-LGBTQIA+phobic therapeutic space.
