About Melanie 'Mali' Rosen
Melanie 'Mali' Rosen is a holistic registered psychotherapist, educator, and performance artist, who understands the power of PLAYfulness! Through her innovative and interdisciplinary approach she weaves together elements of psychotherapy, education and creative arts experiences. Her work is experiential and body-centred, otherwise known as psychosomatic, as it makes connections between the mind and the body. Her perspective is also informed by various world views and the knowledge of multiple intelligences. Mindfulness is a foundational part of her approach. Allowing people to gain a new awareness while discovering their own value in the process, Melanie is a guide that leads people towards a deeper understanding, integration and expression of their essence. She is covered by the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, offering her service to First Nations.
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Work Experience
Melanie has over twenty five years of experience working with children, adolescents, parents and adults with a range of complex needs, in private practice, hospitals, treatment centres, schools, professional development/conferences and abroad. For many years, she worked as a Therapeutic Clown Practitioner at The Hospital for Sick Children and continues to integrate this work into her practice. She has implemented mindfulness-based treatment and education programs, which includes the practice of yoga. Melanie has also facilitated programs for elderly populations such as: therapeutic clown, dance/movement, music therapy, drama, and creative writing. She has shared her work in various First Nations communities and feels passionate to be an ally in this way.
Education
Studying in Switzerland at the European Graduate School, and in Toronto at the CREATE Institute, Melanie received her Masters degree in Expressive Arts Therapy, with a focus in dance/movement therapy, including other psychosomatic (mind-body) approaches such as Focusing, Bioenergetics, and the Rubenfeld Synergy Method. She is a graduate of Toronto Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytic Program. She is certified in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. Melanie is a certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher. She is dedicated to the practice and teaching of Meditation (Vipassana, Sivanada and OSHO). She has her second degree in Reiki and first degree in Pranic Healing. Since her teenage years, Melanie has been a part of traditional First Nations ceremonies and has had the opportunity to study with elders here and abroad, including African elder Malidoma Patrice Some.
Artistic Profile
Melanie's is a dancer. Her love of dance is rooted in her own experience and knowlege of its healing power. Her study and repertoire includes: West African, Afro-Cuban, belly dance, corporeal mime, theatrical and therapeutic clown, active meditation, hatha yoga and authentic movement. She has taught various forms of dance/movement in schools and treatment centres. Melanie has been fortunate to perform with various groups in and around Toronto as well as work as the choreographic and creative consultant on the television series, The Barefoot Dancer (aired on ONE and Woman’s Television Network).
Melanie is a musician. She has studied and plays: west African drumming, Afro-Cuban drumming and percussion, mbira, native wood flutes, chimes, bells and bowls.
Melanie is a theatrical and therapeutic clown who has trained with some of the best teachers including: Mike Kennard, John Turner, and Helen Donnelly. She is a professional therapeutic clown practitioner who worked at The Hospital for Sick Children for many years. Throughout the years she has developed many characters, for children, youth and adults.
Melanie is a writer and a stand up storyteller. She is a part of the Algonquin Writers Group, is the winner of the Georgian Bay Story Slam, and has performed at various venues in Toronto.
Melanie is a musician. She has studied and plays: west African drumming, Afro-Cuban drumming and percussion, mbira, native wood flutes, chimes, bells and bowls.
Melanie is a theatrical and therapeutic clown who has trained with some of the best teachers including: Mike Kennard, John Turner, and Helen Donnelly. She is a professional therapeutic clown practitioner who worked at The Hospital for Sick Children for many years. Throughout the years she has developed many characters, for children, youth and adults.
Melanie is a writer and a stand up storyteller. She is a part of the Algonquin Writers Group, is the winner of the Georgian Bay Story Slam, and has performed at various venues in Toronto.
Global Learning and Work
Melanie completed her B.A. in sociology, at the University of Guelph. Her curiosity of people and culture and more specifically for the arts, ritual and healing have led her to numerous places to study such as her birthplace of Ontario/Turtle Island, Africa, Israel, Cuba, New Zealand and India. Melanie has initiated and implemented arts-based education in rural communities in Uganda and Zimbabwe. She has created and directed numerous summer day camps and programs that include: expressive arts, mindfulness, puppetry, storytelling that are rooted in First Nations mythology (i.e. M'Chigeeng First Nations on Manitoulin Island). Melanie was delighted to teach workshops at the Expressive Arts Training Institute in Peru (TAE Peru) and volunteer as a therapeutic clown in Nepal.