THE TEA MOVEMENT - with Su Mei Tan, Eric Jiancong Zhang, Chanudi Wickramasinha and Weiyu Guan
Su Mei, Eric, Chanudi and Weiyu join us on Sunday 7th May at the 2023 Creative Mental Health Forum to share this integrative, inter-modal workshop inspired by the traditional art of brewing tea.
SILENCE . RITUAL . REPETITION .
Brewing and drinking loose leaf tea is a time for thought and observance due to the natural time frame.
Meditation and paying homage to the art of brewing is at the very core of tea’s long history and culture. Many meditation practitioners incorporate tea to end their sessions. The process of watching a dry leaf unfurl, and slowly infuse its colour and flavour into the water lends itself to a moment of reflection and recognition.
Join Su Mei and the Team from Art Tearapy, in a meditative exploration of tea ceremony interspersed with movement exploration to ground our bodies and prepare our body, mind and souls to relax into the opportunities that lie ahead of us.
Predominantly a non-verbal workshop, the tea movement will include free individual and communal expression drawing from yoga therapy, freedom movement and mindfulness. Allowing us to release physical, emotional, and mental tension in the body through a series of sitting, breathing and movement, creating opportunities for some communal movement, collaboration, and mediation over a warm cup of tea.
People will be invited to partake in the tea ceremony, movement or attend as a witness to the ritual.
Participants are requested to please bring a cushion to sit on comfortably as you will be sitting on the floor.
About "Team Tearapy"
SU MEI TAN
Founder, “Art Tearapy”
Lead Art Therapist, Family Therapist, Yoga Therapist
With a passion for the creative arts and helping others, Su Mei started life in the world of architecture which led to her co-founding a charity that brought third world countries building and design services. She realised that she enjoyed the time where she shared her passion of ART with the children. This led to a pursuit of a master’s in art therapy at La Trobe University, Melbourne and completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours of Social Practice and Community Engagement at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), Melbourne University and currently pursuing a Master in Clinical Family Therapy at the Bouverie Centre.
Su Mei is currently working as an MST Psychiatric Family Therapist at MacKillop Family Services. She has experience as an Art Therapist in the clinical setting at Northpark Private Hospital and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. She journeys with people who experience various forms of mental illness, intellectual, physical, and various disabilities.
Su Mei is also a trained Yoga Alliance instructor who did her RYT 500 training at Brahmani Yoga, India and Yoga Therapy Training with the I AM Yoga, Amrit Yoga Institute. She has shared her love of yoga in many countries around the world.
ERIC JIANCONG ZHANG
Art Therapist
Eric is a queer identifying artist-art therapist based in Melbourne. Originally born in Canton (Guangdong) China and graduated from Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore with a MA in art therapy. His art practice is informed by his Eastern background and cross-cultural experiences.
Eric’s art therapy practice has spanned multiple age groups, from children, adolescents, and young adults to elders. His work is grounded in Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), Narrative therapy and Psychodynamic psychotherapy, as implemented through collective crafting. One of his artistic approaches is to engage people with folding origami; This Eastern art form can enhance the ability to be aware of what is happening in the moment, deal with trauma, practice mindfulness and promote sensorimotor skills or frustration tolerance.
Eric believes the creative art making process empowers and assists people in reaching their goals. He sees art psychotherapy as a collaborative process between the client(s) and the therapist, in which he draws on many different approaches to find the best way to understand and empathise with the client’s experience.
WEIYU GUAN
Art Therapist & Mental Health Nurse
Weiyu completed a Bachelor of Environments and a Master of Nursing Science at Melbourne University, and more recently, a Master in Therapeutic Arts Practice at The MIECAT Institute.
Weiyu is an experienced Mental Health Nurse in both clinical and research areas, with a special interest in exploring and bridging the arts and science for health and wellbeing across society.
Working professionally as an Art Therapist, Weiyu values all forms of art and ways of expression and focuses on the co-creation of a safe and nourishing space. Weiyu recognises everyone as the artist in their own life, and is determined to practice alongside them with respect, curiosity, honesty, and compassion.
…
CHANUDI WICKRAMASINHA
Art Therapist and Community Worker
Chanudi is an artist and mental health professional who uses art therapy and psychosocial support to promote positive change in individuals and communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in design, a master’s in art therapy and further qualifications related to community services.
Chanudi has extensive experience working with diverse cross-cultural populations, including underprivileged minorities and marginalized groups, using a person-centred and strengths-based approach.
Her expertise spans in art therapy, counselling, case management, forensic rehabilitation, and trauma, among others. Chanudi has presented and conducted sessions in experiential art and art therapy in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Myanmar, collaborating with governmental and non-profit organizations. She also has experience working within the disability sector in Melbourne.
WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME SU MEI, ERIC, CHANUDI AND WEIYU
AS PRESENTERS AT THE
2023 CREATIVE MENTAL HEALTH FORUM
AND SELF CARE RETREAT.
WE WELCOME
CREATIVE THERAPISTS,
ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
AND EDUCATORS WHO:
want to learn more about creative mental health,
be inspired by holistic and diverse workshops and presenters,
and “refill your well” with time in a beautiful nurturing environment and space for self care.
Leave a Reply