I am Angela Bennik. I enjoy reading, being outside, expressive arts, psychology, culture, and learning. I parent many children. I live with a lot of different people in my home and can sometimes lose myself in the midst of all that. I have used expressive arts over the years to cope. It has helped me express and connect with who I am so I can see what I need even alongside all the demands and responsibilities.

Ashleigh Gureckas is a Professional Canadian Art Therapist, Registered Therapeutic Counsellor and founder of Discover Art Therapy.

Known for her engaging Instagram content (@discoverarttherapy), Ashleigh empowers individuals worldwide to use creativity as a tool for self-care, emotional regulation, and self-discovery. With a focus on making therapeutic art techniques and ideas accessible, she helps her clients and followers embrace creativity to navigate anxiety, perfectionism, and burnout - but most importantly to bring more joy in the world through creating! Ashleigh’s work demonstrates that art therapy certainly isn’t just for kids but a powerful resource for adults seeking deeper emotional well-being and personal growth.

Currently based out of Alberta Canada, we call Southern Alberta home. In addition to @mamapsychologists.

We are also best friends, registered psychologists, clinical directors, authors, and, most importantly, moms (to 4 kids aged 7 and under). We struggled significantly in the postpartum period. From months-long NICU stay to birth trauma and postpartum anxiety—we truly have experienced many of the topics we talk about! Between the two of us we have training and experience in EMDR, trauma, child and adolescent psychology, theraplay, maternal mental health, perinatal mental health, birth trauma, pregnancy loss, infertility, somatic experiencing, and more. We have over 20 years of combined experience in the mental health field. 

We pride ourselves on sharing real life parenting experiences and struggles (with a dash of humour) to share the ups and downs to help parents worldwide feel less alone. 

Hayley Dunlop is a UK-based writer, author and mother to two children. 

Hayley spent the first 15 years of her career working in media and PR before realizing that wasn’t what she wanted to do at all and switching to creative copywriting. She lives just outside London with her husband and kids and is fuelled by loud music, frequent naps and the New Yorker cartoon caption contest. Her first novel, an unconventional festive romcom, will be published in summer 2025.

Jennifer's journey into music therapy began as a teen when she sang to her stroke-stricken Grandad, witnessing music's profound ability to create connection. Her love for speaking also started young, winning a school contest and realizing the power of a message to inspire change. A visit from John Denver further fueled her passion, showing her how music and imagery can create unforgettable moments. Now, as a music therapist and speaker, Jennifer combines these elements to help others heal and connect through the power of music.

• Keynote Speaker
• Best-Selling Author
• Certified Music Therapist

Jenny Gwinn McGlothern, life coach, creator of the sack-lunch-mini-retreat and author of Mama Needs a Refill: Finding Light in the Midst of Madness, helps her clients discover their own authentic fuel to support their soul care while caring for others.

Kelsey is passionate about combining her creativity, knowledge, and experience in using an expressive arts approach into all aspects of her life, whether personally or professionally. As a teacher and art therapy grad student, Kelsey hopes to integrate an intermodal expressive arts approach as a healing tool within public settings, including schools, while advocating for accessible mental health for all.

Olivia Scoobie (MSW, RSW, MA) is an Ontario based queer social work counselor who specializes in perinatal mood, reproductive trauma, parental mental health, and provider burnout.

She is committed to continuous learning and is currently completing a PhD in Health Policy and Equity. Her dissertation is focussed on the reproductive trauma experiences of LGBT+ birthers. Olivia is the co-founder of Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings and also the founder Postpartum Support Toronto (now Perinatal Wellbeing Ontario). She believes in eating dessert every day, telling your story, and barrier free access to healing services.

I’m Tara, and through my work as a certified Youth Care Worker and Holistic Life Coach, Life Skills Counsellor and a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor I bring a holistic and gentle approach to the table through my storytelling and compassionate manner. 

I am especially passionate about empowering moms. Having 2 kids of my own, I understand the struggle. Having to renegotiate my relationship as a Mother as my children went through their own struggles was one of the most difficult life stages I have ever navigated. Now with my children ages 24 and 9, it is my mission to walk alongside parents as well as children & teens as they navigate their path through these pivotal years.