A warm welcome from the Strawberry Moon team.  I am Straja Linder King, a Registered Clinical Art Therapist. I am a pioneer in merging art and animal-assisted therapies, teaching at both graduate and postgraduate levels. I have taught with animals (dogs and cats) at my side since the beginning of my professional career and honour and respect all our animal friends and companions. Therefore I have done pet loss support and counselling since day one. I do not compare losses because grief is a broken heart. My philosophy is that you will grieve to the depth that you loved.

In addition to my clinical practice I do pet death doula care.  I supply emotional support and will journey alongside you providing resources as needed. I acknowledge that grief is unpredictable, chaotic, messy, and no two people grieve alike. Death irrevocably changes us forever and the light is finding meaning in the experience. When words are inadequate or not even present I have therapy animals and expressive arts to provide a language older than words. Animals provide their own presence and healing gifts.

Biography

​Straja Linder King graduated from Seton Hill with a Masters degree in Art Therapy and became one of the first Canadians to earn a board certified designation with the American Art Therapy Association (AATA).  A board certified therapist in Calgary, Alberta, Straja holds Bachelors and BFA degrees both “With Distinction” from the University of Calgary. The path to her pioneering animal-assisted art therapy work started in 1992 when Straja volunteered at a hospice facility, taking her art supplies and dog Kuzel. Over three years, she observed how the residents and their families connected with Kuzel and decided to pursue professional work in art therapy. At Seton Hill, Straja’s practicum in a day hospice inspired her to continue her work in palliative care and bereavement. Today, along with her university teachings both at the undergraduate and graduate level Straja operates a private practice. She counsels both on zoom and on site in the Strawberry Moon Art Studio. Her specialties are clinical art therapy/psychotherapy, and animal-assisted interventions (AAI) including canine and equine. Straja works in complicated bereavement including pet loss in partnership with the Humane Society, gerontology, and with people living on the autism spectrum (ASD). Her innovative approach merging animal assistance and art mitigates anxiety surrounding the issues being treated. Straja’s tireless volunteer work over 20 years with Calgary’s most vulnerable residents has helped people of all ethnicities, including immigrants and Indigenous Peoples. She and her therapy dogs work in schools, hospitals, palliative care, corrections facilities, as well as providing comfort care and support at funerals and memorial services. Straja taught at the University of Lethbridge and co-designed the Masters Art Therapy specialization degree at the ecumenical school, St. Stephen’s College (University of Alberta). Straja has written several book chapters and articles on animal-assisted and nature-assisted expressive therapies. She continues ongoing research surrounding the efficacy of animal-assisted interventions (AAI). In 2017, the American Art Therapy Association honoured her therapy dog, Twillow Rose, as “Hero Therapy Dog, ”the first to be recognized for the contributions and merging with her art therapy work. Straja’s first therapy dog named Tangus received the “Heart of the Hero” for his therapy work in Alberta, Canada. Two of her other therapy dogs were featured on the international television series “Pet Heroes – Legacy of Hope.” In 2017, Straja received the Distinguished Clinical Award – Non-Verbal Modalities from the AATA for her dedication to clients and innovative approach merging animal-assisted interventions along with her clinical art therapy work.

Awards
2022 Recipient of  Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award from Setonhill University, Greensburg, PA, USA
2017 Recipient of American Art Therapy Association Distinguished Clinician Award