In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, we explore how art therapy can help people living with serious mental illnesses and their family/caretakers. Through conversations with art therapist Nicole Parekh and artist Sandra Yuen, we examine how creative expression can offer a powerful, non-verbal way to process experiences, build connection, and support recovery. While art isn’t a replacement for treatment, it can help people reconnect with themselves, find meaning, and express what words sometimes cannot.

 

Timecodes:

(0:22) What is art therapy?

(1:37) How art therapy actually works

(3:57) Art therapy vs regular art classes

(5:12) Why art helps express what words can’t

(7:18) Art therapy & schizophrenia: real benefits

(9:04) Can art therapy support recovery?

(10:45) When art therapy might not be enough

(11:30) How creativity rebuilds identity

(13:33) Real story: from chaos to stability through art

(14:41) The power of community in mental health recovery

(15:17) A simple art therapy exercise you can try at home

(18:24) How families can use creativity to support loved ones

(19:55) Why art is a powerful coping tool

(21:16) Sandra’s story about living with schizophrenia

(23:11) How art helped rebuild confidence & purpose

(24:08) The meaning behind Sandra’s artwork

(25:23) Why art can’t replace medication (but still matters) 

In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, we explore how art therapy can help people living with serious mental illnesses and their family/caretakers. Through conversations with art therapist Nicole Parekh and artist Sandra Yuen, we examine how creative expression can offer a powerful, non-verbal way to process experiences, build connection, and support recovery. While art isn&rsquo;t a replacement for treatment, it can help people reconnect with themselves, find meaning, and express what words sometimes cannot.
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Timecodes:
(0:22) What is art therapy?
(1:37) How art therapy actually works
(3:57) Art therapy vs regular art classes
(5:12) Why art helps express what words can&rsquo;t
(7:18) Art therapy &amp; schizophrenia: real benefits
(9:04) Can art therapy support recovery?
(10:45) When art therapy might not be enough
(11:30) How creativity rebuilds identity
(13:33) Real story: from chaos to stability through art
(14:41) The power of community in mental health recovery
(15:17) A simple art therapy exercise you can try at home
(18:24) How families can use creativity to support loved ones
(19:55) Why art is a powerful coping tool
(21:16) Sandra&rsquo;s story about living with schizophrenia
(23:11) How art helped rebuild confidence &amp; purpose
(24:08) The meaning behind Sandra&rsquo;s artwork
(25:23) Why art can&rsquo;t replace medication (but still matters)&nbsp;

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness.

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness.

Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness. 

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness.&nbsp;