Janice Santos Valdez, MA (she/siya/they) also known as Jea (pronounced Jae-ya), by her biological, cultural and soul families. Jea is a mother, facilitator of arts-based healing, research and education.

Jea works with women committed and called to break harmful family patterns. Her work supports rest, reconnection, and gentler ways of living — without pressure to perform or push through for results. Informed by her lived experiences as a migrant settler from the Philippines to Turtle Island, colonially known as Canada, she brings a perspective unique to her diasporic generation with trainings in theatre, drama therapy, voice, dance, improvisation and Nervous System Regulation as presented in Dr. Stephen Porges’ work on Polyvagal Theory.

Janice is devoted to self-inquiry and arts practices with over 25 years of experience learning and teaching alongside artists, educators, scholars, and migrant and indigenous communities. Wherever she leads, Jea’s delight in authentic expression, creative curiosity and self-inquiry are contagious.

Holding a Master’s degree in Drama Therapy, a PhD candidate in Education, and ongoing studies with spiritual mentors, Janice bridges studies of human development and design with creative practices to help others live more conscious and fulfilling lives. Jea is deeply grateful to learn, create and gather on the Indigenous ancestral and unceded lands of the xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations.