Art Therapy Supervision

Dr Carla van Laar
Artist | Art Therapist
Master of Creative Arts Therapy
Doctor of Therapeutic Arts Practice 
PACFA Reg. Clinical and Accredited Supervisor – PACFA

 

Carla van Laar is a painter and therapeutic arts practitioner from Australia. Born in Brisbane, Carla is first generation Australian on her Dutch grandparents side, and 7th generation through her maternal bloodline who were mostly English and came to Australia in the early colonisation of the 1800s. Her mother grew up in remote North Queensland and most of her extended family still live up North.

Carla currently lives and works in Boon Wurrung Country in the South Eastern coastal town of Inverloch, paying deep respects to the First Peoples of the Kulin Nations whose land was never ceded and will always be Aboriginal land. 

Identifying as a cisgender woman, Carla is passionately disinterested in socially constructed identities that disempower anyone. Carla has over 25 years’ experience working with people and the arts for health and well-being in community organisations, justice, health and education contexts.

Carla’s first book “Bereaved Mother’s Heart” was published in 2007 and broke social taboos about maternal grief. From 2008-18 she established and ran an independent art therapy studio and gallery in Melbourne. Her Doctoral research “Seeing Her Stories” continues the mission to make women’s stories visible, through art.

Carla has worked as an Art Therapy educator at a number of training institutions since 2001. She is a practicing artist and in 2018 received an Artist Fellowship at RMIT’s creative research lab, “Creative Agency”. She insists on being part of a creative revolution in which art re-embodies lived experience, brings us to our senses, makes us aware of the interconnectedness of all life and is an agent of social change.

Carla’s book “Seeing her stories” presents her Doctoral research into making unseen stories visible through art. It was published in 2020 and is available to read for free on this website under the Seeing Her Stories menu. 

 

CLICK HERE to Listen to Dr Carla interviewed on the FAT MOON Podcast

FAT MOON Podcast, created by Kirsty Greene, is a platform for creative therapists to connect and learn from each other.
In each FAT Moon episode, Kirsty interviews a creative therapist from around the globe.

Watch this short clip filmed at Carla’s “Unsung Spaces” exhibition during her fellowship at RMIT University’s “Creative Agency”.

Anna Kellerman of “Mama Creatives” invited Carla as a special guest. In this interview, Carla talks about being a woman, creative and therapist, being a bereaved mother, her journey into creative arts therapy, radical research and the art of activism and social change.

RADICAL CREATIVITY with Dr Carla van Laar and Melanie Knight

RADICAL CREATIVITY with Dr Carla van Laar and Melanie Knight

Rhythm in Flow - Dance Meditation   Dancing is a way of knowing ourselves beyond the physical. Dancing is a way of processing what is stored in the body Dancing

RHYTHM IN FLOW with Jodie Rahda Lynch

RHYTHM IN FLOW with Jodie Rahda Lynch

Rhythm in Flow - Dance Meditation   Dancing is a way of knowing ourselves beyond the physical. Dancing is a way of processing what is stored in the body Dancing

CRAFTING IDENTITY – A BARBIE ART THERAPY WORKSHOP with Michelle Morgan and Alana Stewart

CRAFTING IDENTITY – A BARBIE ART THERAPY WORKSHOP with Michelle Morgan and Alana Stewart

Crafting Identities - a Barbie Art Therapy Workshop   Recently, Mattel released Art Therapist Barbie. She’s the first Barbie in a mental health profession. She’s young, light-skinned, casually dressed, sits

TEXTURAL TRUENESS: LIVED AND LIVING EXPERIENCE with Bree Till

TEXTURAL TRUENESS: LIVED AND LIVING EXPERIENCE with Bree Till

Textural Trueness: Authenticity, Preservation and Permeable Boundaries of Lived and Living Experiences as Sustainable Resources to Support Diverse Populations.    Bree Till is a carer and art therapist with training

ART THERAPY IN POST-CONFLICT RECONCILIATION AND DETAINEE REHABILITATION with Chanudi Wickramasinha

ART THERAPY IN POST-CONFLICT RECONCILIATION AND DETAINEE REHABILITATION with Chanudi Wickramasinha

Exploring the Role of Art Therapy in Post-Conflict Reconciliation and Detainee Rehabilitation    Art Therapist, Chanudi Wickramasinha is joining us in May 2024 to share learnings from her fascinating work

Jorja Elizabeth – empowering children’s creativity

Jorja Elizabeth – empowering children’s creativity

Introducing Jorja Hello Parents! Are you looking for a fun and creative way to engage your children in meaningful activities? My name is Jorja, and I'm here to guide your

GOOD OLD TAVERN CHOIR with Tania Balil

GOOD OLD TAVERN CHOIR with Tania Balil

Join Tania for an Afternoon of Active Music Making and Group Performance    Hosts of the 2024 Creative Mental Health Forum are delighted to be joined by Tania Balilmusician and

Henry De Oleveira – Actor and Theatre Maker

Henry De Oleveira – Actor and Theatre Maker

Introducing Henry Meet Henry De Oleveira, a dedicated actor and theatremaker based in Naarm /  Melbourne. He graduated from Federation University's Arts Academy in 2021 with a Bachelor of Performing

ADAPTABLE DRAMA FOR ARTS THERAPY with Steve Wiegerink & Rebecca Vandyk-Hamilton

ADAPTABLE DRAMA FOR ARTS THERAPY with Steve Wiegerink & Rebecca Vandyk-Hamilton

"The Magic If" - What if a drama teacher and arts and health practitioner joined forces to co-create together?     Meet Steve Wiegerink and Rebecca Vandyk-Hamilton Rebecca and Steve

Nicky De Gruchy – Musician, Artist, Voice Sound Therapist

Nicky De Gruchy – Musician, Artist, Voice Sound Therapist

Introducing Nicky Meet Nicky De Gruchy, an artist, musician and sound therapist who draws inspiration from nature for her creativity and healing. With over thirty years of experience in teaching

STRENGTHENING THE VESSEL with Ann Soo Lawrence

STRENGTHENING THE VESSEL with Ann Soo Lawrence

Strengthening the Vessel in the Ebb and Flow: Creative approaches in working with refugees and asylum seeker experiences.    Hosts of the 2024 Creative Mental Health Forum are delighted to

Jess Edwards – Nature Based Health and Wellbeing

Jess Edwards – Nature Based Health and Wellbeing

Introducing Jess Jess Edwards (she/her) is a social worker and nature therapist. Jess is the founder and therapist at Flourish: Health and Wellbeing in Nature. She is also currently studying a Diploma in Creative Arts and

Martine Zajacek – Designer and Collage Artist

Martine Zajacek – Designer and Collage Artist

Artist's Statement I specialize in creating collages using antique and vintage papers, as well as found ephemera, which significantly influence my work. The patina and texture of these materials, often

Ricci McAuliffe – Paintings from Nature

Ricci McAuliffe – Paintings from Nature

Artist's Statement While life initially had its own intentions for her, Ricci McAuliffe painted herself into the visual arts corner in 2019.  Living between Inverloch and the Yarra Valley since

Samantha Brick – Occupational Therapist, Kinesiologist and Energy Practitioner

Samantha Brick – Occupational Therapist, Kinesiologist and Energy Practitioner

Facilitator Bio Samantha Brick is an independent Occupational Therapist who lives and works in the coastal town of Inverloch. She has a holistic approach to her work, which involves using

Melissa McDevitt Weston – Contemporary First Nations Artist

Melissa McDevitt Weston – Contemporary First Nations Artist

Artist’s Statement Cultural understandings inform me, as a Traditional Owner, that my ancestors lived along the waterways and I continue to occupy these areas through spirit. This knowledge is substantiated by

Casey Sweetman – First Nations Artist

Casey Sweetman – First Nations Artist

Artist’s Statement Hi, my name is Casey Sweetman (Weston), I am a Boon Wurrung and Yorta Yorta woman living here on county. I’m a contemporary artist and have been creating

Renee Sweetman – Boon Wurrung Singer and Songwriter, Songwoman.

Renee Sweetman – Boon Wurrung Singer and Songwriter, Songwoman.

Artist’s BiographyRenee Sweetman is a proud Boon Wurrung & Yorta Yorta woman living in the Bass Coast.She is a singer/songwriter and has performed at major events including the Blaktivism concerts

Jasmine Susic – contemporary dancer – improvisation, installation performance and dance theatre.

Jasmine Susic – contemporary dancer – improvisation, installation performance and dance theatre.

Artist’s BiographyJasmine Susic is a Bass Coast based contemporary dancer with an interest in improvisation, installation performance and dance theatre.Feature image credit: Tyson ButlerDance images credit: Karli Michelle   Jasmine

Dr Carla van Laar – Artist and Creative Arts Therapist

Dr Carla van Laar – Artist and Creative Arts Therapist

Artist’s Statement I pay my respects to the Boon Wurrung People, on whose traditional lands this exhibition takes place. I honour them, their elders and ancestors. They have inhabited, cared

Jeremy Grace – Juggler and Magician.

Jeremy Grace – Juggler and Magician.

Artist’s BiographyJeremy has been entertaining Australians for the last 35 years as a juggler, magician, singer, dancer and compère. Performing in public spaces, private functions, theatre restaurants, tropical islands and entertainment

RADICAL CREATIVITY with Dr Carla van Laar and Melanie Knight

Rhythm in Flow – Dance Meditation   Dancing is a way of knowing ourselves beyond the physical. Dancing is a way of processing what is stored in the body Dancing is a way of integrating change Dancing is a way … Read More

Featured Post

RHYTHM IN FLOW with Jodie Rahda Lynch

Rhythm in Flow – Dance Meditation   Dancing is a way of knowing ourselves beyond the physical. Dancing is a way of processing what is stored in the body Dancing is a way of integrating change Dancing is a way … Read More

Featured Post

CRAFTING IDENTITY – A BARBIE ART THERAPY WORKSHOP with Michelle Morgan and Alana Stewart

Crafting Identities – a Barbie Art Therapy Workshop   Recently, Mattel released Art Therapist Barbie. She’s the first Barbie in a mental health profession. She’s young, light-skinned, casually dressed, sits on the floor, works with a child, and has similar … Read More

Featured Post

TEXTURAL TRUENESS: LIVED AND LIVING EXPERIENCE with Bree Till

Textural Trueness: Authenticity, Preservation and Permeable Boundaries of Lived and Living Experiences as Sustainable Resources to Support Diverse Populations.     Bree Till is a carer and art therapist with training and experience in advocacy, governance, neurodiversity, and systemic engagement. … Read More

Featured Post

ART THERAPY IN POST-CONFLICT RECONCILIATION AND DETAINEE REHABILITATION with Chanudi Wickramasinha

Exploring the Role of Art Therapy in Post-Conflict Reconciliation and Detainee Rehabilitation     Art Therapist, Chanudi Wickramasinha is joining us in May 2024 to share learnings from her fascinating work with ex-militants. Chanudi is a well-respected practitioner in the … Read More

Featured Post

Jorja Elizabeth – empowering children’s creativity

Introducing Jorja Hello Parents! Are you looking for a fun and creative way to engage your children in meaningful activities? My name is Jorja, and I’m here to guide your little ones through the exciting world of art exploration and … Read More

Featured Post

Publications & Resources

SNAPSHOTS OF A BEREAVED MOTHER’S HEART – RESEARCH In Carla’s 2001 Master’s research project, she investigated her own lived experience of being a bereaved Mother using arts based and narrative methods. Through this research, findings were generated that illuminated aspects … Read More

Curriculum Vitae

Dr Carla van Laar MCAT Prof Doc ThAP  PACFA reg. Clinical 27769 PACFA accredited supervisor Arts Practitioner, Educator, Researcher and Therapist “With over 25 years experience working with people to enhance life through art, I am committed to creativity and … Read More

Art based projects