Faculty Spotlight | Martine Bédard

Martine Bédard, MED, DKATI, BED, BSC, is an art maker, a mother and an educator who lives her life inspired by the creativity she finds in nature, people and the world. She graduated from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute in 1998 and completed a Masters in School Counseling in 2016. Martine has been an educator and school counselor in the public school system for nearly 15 years.

Martine is the co-founder of Art for People Projects, an organization which raises money to support creative projects both locally and abroad. She is passionate for the outdoors and has enjoyed many slow adventures while bike touring the world with her family. Her approach is strongly flavoured with the gratitude she feels for the relationships in her life, and her commitment to living in the moment.

Interview

What excites you right now in your teaching role? 

I really appreciate accompanying the students in their academic learning, witnessing the connections and integration that takes place, and their engagement in the process.  Being a student at KATI is an immersive experience; one can’t help but be transformed by the combination of learning that the school offers: Academic learning of theory, application of new theoretical knowledge in practicum placements, and personal integration of learning through one’s own therapeutic art making process. It is a privilege to contribute to the collective knowledge and wisdom that KATI has to offer.

What is your personal pedagogy? 

My personal pedagogy is informed by a curiosity and a belief that we are life-long learners. I often approach things from a place of not knowing so that I can learn new elements along the way, within my own teaching capacity. I like to encourage discussions, personal questioning and examining of one’s own biases. Students learn much from each other and teach each other by sharing their life experiences and connecting their personal narratives to what they are learning.

Why did you choose to teach at KATI? 

I appreciate teaching at KATI for several reasons. The team of professionals who work at KATI are progressive thinkers who are dedicated to offering an authentic learning experience to students, and to collaborating with colleagues on how best to support students’ growth and flourishing into art therapists. Additionally, art therapy and art therapy research are ever evolving fields, enriched by the creativity and engagement with art making of its practitioners. KATI is a fertile ground for the cultivation of imagination and the brewing of new ideas. It feels really good to be a part of those creative initiatives.