Who am I?
I am Sandra Maor, a certified art therapist, creative expression workshop facilitator, and jack-of-all-trades artist. I founded Ateliers Charivari in Saint-Gilles (Brussels).
I offer creative workshops in small groups, as well as art therapy in groups or individual consultations. I also offer custom workshops, in my studio or on-site.
In these different settings, creation can become a space for exploration, expression, relaxation, or meeting. In the context of art therapy, it is part of a therapeutic process and relationship.
What matters to me
In the society we live in, performance and evaluation take up a lot of space. I find it valuable to offer, in my creative workshops, a space where one can try, explore, and create at their own pace, without pressure for results or judgment. The exchanges focus on the process, the attempts, and the discoveries. You can experiment or change direction: even an attempt that doesn't immediately succeed can nourish the creative process.
In art therapy, creation opens a path of exploration that complements speech. I do not interpret the work for the person: we start from what they recognize in it, what touches or surprises them, to let their own meaning emerge. I support each person at their own pace and adapt my proposals and artistic techniques to their needs at the moment, to best support their journey.
Non-discrimination is also an important benchmark of my practice. I am attentive to how discrimination and social realities can shape lived experiences: for example, racism, sexism, transphobia, ableism, fatphobia, or prejudices related to neurodivergence. This reflection led me, in particular, to dedicate my final training thesis to the theme "Art therapy and gender identity: for an inclusive and respectful practice."
My background
Creativity has always held a central place in my life, both at work and in my free time. Caring for others has also been a key part of my volunteer commitments and the relationships I have cultivated within my teams.
When I discovered art therapy, I saw the possibility of bringing these two dimensions together. I chose to train and pivot my career to place creativity and supporting others at the heart of my professional activity.
I completed the three-year art therapy training program at the Institut Rhapsodie and developed my practice through internships in hospital settings and private practice.
In parallel with the workshops I offer at Ateliers Charivari, I have facilitated creative workshops in nursing homes and have worked on an ad-hoc basis with various associations and institutions. At the Académie de Molenbeek, I have notably offered collage workshops on several occasions.