The Art of Relationship, Connection and Co-creation – reflections on my final PD workshop of 2020

In November 2019 I planned a whole calendar of Professional Development training workshops for 2020. I was inspired to share some of the significant learnings from my Doctoral research “Seeing Her Stories”, and also themes that come up frequently in supervision. I now have twenty years practice experience under my belt as an Arts Therapist, and am keen to contribute to the ongoing development of our field through supporting the practice of others. I find this work deeply rewarding. I booked venues for the ten planned training workshops, and was super excited to deliver this series in 2020.

But then, of course, 2020 happened. Like many others, I have been working online since social distancing first started back in March. Rather than cancel, I moved my experiential, arts-based workshop series to an online format. Amazingly, over 150 Arts Therapists have attended the online workshops throughout this year, we have come together from locations all over Australia, with some attendees from New Zealand and Asia too.

The online workshops have been wonderful for connecting and building a strong community of support through this challenging year.

Still, it has been hard not working with three dimensional humans with bodies attached to their heads, in shared spaces to move around in together.

So, when I learned that the room I had booked a year ago at Siteworks in Brunswick had the capacity to host a group again under the easing of Victoria’s restrictions, I jumped out of my seat with enthusiasm.

Within some rules, like social distancing and wearing masks while moving around inside, we were free play again together!

Thank you to the wonderful attendees at Sunday 22nd November’s first FACE to FACE Professional Development workshop since Melbourne’s lock down – “The Art of Relationship, Connection and Co-creation”.

This topic took on new meaning in the context of Victoria’s re-opening after the pandemic restrictions.

It had been 8 months since we last met in the same space, long enough for us to adapt to restrictions, and for parts of us to change.

We explored the transition from being locked down to opening back up, acknowledging that parts of ourselves may have become locked down.

While there is plenty of joy in reconnecting, there are also challenges, and we noted the importance to be mindful of this in our work with others, to go gently, take space when overwhelmed, and be understanding of the need to retreat.

Through the experiential activities we were able to experience first hand the very important idea:

Engaging in the arts naturally facilitates the strengthening of relationships, deepening of connections, and the co-creation of communities of support.

The implications of this when thinking about, describing and advocating for our work as arts therapists are profound. We have seen this year, more than ever, how devastating the effects of isolation and loneliness can be for mental health.

Working in ways that strengthen and support relationships and connection is imperative to restoring mental health in our Victorian communities, and the arts are a perfect vehicle for this work.

If you would like to read more about how relationship, connection and co-creation emerged in my own research, and how these themes are discussed in some interesting literature, please see chapter 8 of my book “Seeing Her Stories” that is freely available online here: 

If you would like a hard copy you can order it at a discount price of $100 by contacting me:

I’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has attended online workshops this year from all over Australia, New Zealand and Asia. It has been simply wonderful connecting with you all and supporting each other through the collective and individual challenges of this bushfire and pandemic year. Your bravery to keep showing up makes me so proud of our profession.

Lots of love! Xxxx