By using a guided process the Expressive Arts open the door to understanding your feelings, responses, and knowledge of yourself and the world you live in. The therapist provides a safe, non-judgemental environment with art materials and emphasizes the process and journey of making images that offer opportunities for introspection and gaining self-knowledge.

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Why Cooking?

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I have worked with children and youth with diverse needs for my entire career. About 14 years ago when I was working with young children with complex needs, the center I was at had a cooking program with elders in the community that came in and cooked traditional, comforting, and nourishing foods for the children. The calming effect was truly remarkable. The elders talked to the children during food preparation, sat and chatted while the children ate, and everyone helped clean up. Afterward, the children were noticeably more regulated and happier.

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When I began working with children on the autism spectrum, I again found myself in the role of helping and then leading the cooking program. The results were the same. While undertaking new cooking tasks, the children were more social, displayed more self-regulation, and seemed more engaged, not minding the prep, recipe reading, and even some of the clean up afterward especially when they had input into the recipe ideas. Proficiency turned into joy and excitement about cooking success and future anticipation of creating foods tailored to individual tastes while being able to try healthier food options and exposure to new foods.

At the time I wasn't sure exactly why cooking worked so well. It just seemed a natural way to connect, engage, and help children self-regulate.

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Turns out cooking is good for your brain. Cooking is great for brain cognition and helps with many executive function skills as well as creating independence, supporting motor skills and when done correctly and in a supportive way can help with sensory processing issues.

Cooking is actually an amazing multifunctional skill-based activity that can help support individuals in a lifelong pursuit of a healthier life and brain.