Costume Therapy

WHAT’S ON RIGHT NOW:

Interested? Contact me for more info & bookings!


LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO COSTUME THERAPY.

My name is Danielle I. Diamond, and I am an expressionistic artist of English, Irish & Polish heritage, working on the unceeded territories of the Musqueam Squamish and Tsleil-waututh nations. I use she/her pronouns and identify as a femme presenting, dual-spiritied woman. I am English speaking, half-deaf in both ears and a vivacious plant mother. 

Let’s Dive In:

  • I believe that #CostumeTherapy is a practice that we, as expressionistic & emotional creatures, have been developing for millennia. Costumes & dramatic storytelling were used to pass along our history to the next generation & to make sense of who we were and what we are doing here. These days our cultural expression has shifted greatly from ancient fire-side rituals.
  • Do you notice at costume parties how people seem to be having a whole other level of fun? Costumed events are cultivated spaces where you can connect with a new part of yourself and tell a new story. By inventing an alter-ego, (dressing up & playing a character,) you get to try on a new identity for the night and experience social interactions from a different vantage point.
  • What was once a ritualized cultural practice, can now become an intentional self-development method. As a granddaughter of settlers whose religious traditions limited self-expression, I have had to get creative in way-finding on my own journey, and that jounrey has resulted in the design & development of COSTUME THERAPY.
  • During my decade long battle with identity anxiety, I found that by playing dress up, attending parties in character, doing photoshoots & expressing myself through performance arts, I was actually retraining my brain to become familiar with personality traits I never developed as a young person. I also got to meet aspects of myself that I wished to face & transform. Like anger & shyness for example.

*If you are curious about my personal story you can READ IT HERE *


The Practice Unfolds:

  • This practice is designed for anyone who is curious to explore new facets of themselves. I specialize in working with folks going through questioning periods or conscious shifts in their gender & sexuality. This was a big part of my original identity crisis & I battled gender dysphoria & sexual identity for most of my 20’s.
  • I like to be very clear that I am not a certified ‘therapist’. I am a performer, a director/photographer & a professional costume stylist who has been carefully observing the effects of costumes in my own life and the life of my clients for the past 15 years.
  • Anyone who is curious to develop their self-expression tools may unlock some hidden creativity during a costume therapy session. If you have acknowledged personality patterns or habits that are holding you back from being who you’ve always wanted to be, this could be a relevant therapeutic practice for you!  
  • This practice is collaborative in nature. You set the pace & I act as your guide, we can’t rush healing as much as we might try! Like all self-development practices, it’s up to you to commit to the work in order to see results. 

What To Expect:

My Costume Therapy sessions are currently being held at ‘The Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret,’ a small community theatre just off Main Street in Vancouver BC. We will have access to their imaginative space & extensively eclectic costume collection, flush with period costumes, wigs, props and accessories.

My sessions are offered in three parts:

  • Pt 1: A zoom meeting to establish your personal growth goals, get to know your aspirations, a bit of your history & your dreams.
  • Pt 2: An in-person session at the theatre. I call this part playing with a purpose πŸ˜‰ You are intuitively guided through expressionistic art forms using dress-up, drama, musical theatre & portrait photography in a combination of your choice
  • Pt 3: A follow up phone call one week after our session to discuss what has come up for you, look through any footage we shot together, and make a game-plan if another in-person session is desires.

“β€œI believe there is deep relief to be found in donning a disguise & giving yourself permission to connect with your imagination.β€œ


β€œIt is my intention to teach you a practice that you can use on your own time, it becomes a tool that you access yourself when in need of a boost.”


Danielle Diamond, creator & cultivator of a unique self-development practice called ‘Costume Therapy,’ is launching her personal practice Spring 2023 in Vancouver BC.

Sign up for her mailing list below to be notified when group workshops, costumed field trips & events are announced.

Find her on Instagram at @DiamondsCostumeTherapy and after you do that…go find yourself! πŸ˜‰

β€œPracticing costume therapy is a great way to practice trusting yourself & others.β€œ

Contact me to book a FREE 10 min zoom consult. This is required in advance of booking a costume therapy (3-pt) session.