The Hero’s Journey meets Bollywood dance in this unique, multi-modal, expressive arts workshop based on the work of Joseph Campbell and Anjali’s own explorations of the psycho-technologies of Bollywood dance, music and performance arts as portals that allow us to … Read More
Author Archives: Carla
Creative Self Care: Choosing, changing and continuing Part 2 “Seeing Differently – Noticing Change””
With Dr Carla van Laar Feature image credit Carla van Laar In this article I share a personal story about how what we see can change, and then I invite you to reflect on how you have changed since you … Read More
Art Therapy First Aid
The Art Therapy First Aid Professional Development workshop is suitable for qualified Art Therapists, Allied Health professionals and Educators. The training covers: Psychological First Aid principles as outlined in the APS Australian guidelines for supporting people affected by disaster. Clarify … Read More
The Art of Relationship, Connection and Co-creation
Relationship is the core of all problems and all healing. Through our art based relating and connecting we co-create. Understanding how we do this is core to strengthening our practice and our capacities as art therapists. The intertwining of relationship, … Read More
Getting Creative with Trauma: Part 2
• Art based responses to grief, loss and trauma• Intergenerational relationships• Multi-dimensional perspectives• Creating a new relationship with the past and healing the future. This workshop follows on from Getting Creative with Trauma: Part 1.In part 2 we engage in … Read More
Art Therapy Groups: Behind the Scenes
Let’s get practical. Get the hands-on skills to help you do the work you love!• Planning• Funding• Evaluation• Reporting Learn how to plan so that you are identifying and meeting real needs, create realistic and achievable timelines and budgets, find … Read More
Demystifying Art Based Research
Art in research, Art-informed research, Art as Research, Art based inquiry… Get a handle on what these terms really mean – YES – they are different things and can all be very useful approaches in conducting research and evaluation. Over … Read More
“Meeting Places: Art Based, Collaborative Goal Setting and Therapeutic Reviews”
Institutional practices often require art therapists and holistic counsellors to engage in ‘assessments’, ‘treatment plans’ and ‘case reviews’. The mere language of these practices can feel incongruent with the values we hold, and challenge our authenticity as holistic and client … Read More
Existential Essentials for Art Therapists
Being human, by its very nature, presents us with dilemmas associated with our existences. This full day workshop focuses on understanding an existential perspective in art therapy. We will look at the fundamentals of an existential perspective, and learn to … Read More
Getting Creative with Trauma
Learn how to use creative responses within a trauma informed approach to: • assist with regulating emotions and automatic responses • strengthen safe and healing interpersonal relationships • support transformative re-authoring of the past, present and future. “Getting Creative with … Read More
Presence and Embodiment in Art Therapy
Through our art based activities, we can have a heightened awareness of our embodied experience in the present moment, through which we cultivate presence to ourselves, others and the material world. In this training work-shop we practice, explore and deepen … Read More
“SONGWRITING FOR THE SOUL” – With Singer/Songwriter and Creative Arts Therapist Brodie Caporn at the 2022 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat.
Songwriting for the Soul Workshop Brodie Caporn brings her gift for collaborative music making to the 2022 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat: an invitation to join a group songwriting workshop that culminates in a co-created composition, … Read More
Dr. Raj Ramanathapillai and Dr. Lisa (O’Beirne) Moseley – “RESPONDING TO DRAWN IMAGES OF WAR” at the 2022 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat
Responding to Drawn Images of War: A Trauma-informed discussion. Dr. Raj Ramanathapillai and Dr. Lisa (O’Beirne) Moseley are counsellor-advocates with survivors of torture and war trauma with Foundation House, one of Australia’s eight states/territories affiliated FASSTT NFP organisations. In this … Read More
Creative Self Care: Choosing, changing and continuing Part 1 “Materials and moving – my choices today”
With Dr Carla van Laar Feature image credit Carla van Laar In this article I introduce some ideas about change as an inevitable part of life, and invite you to observe the changes and choices you make through exploring an … Read More
REFILL YOUR WELL with CORNELIA ELBRECHT and CHRIS STORM at the 2022 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat.
The Arts Therapies and Embodiment Sensorimotor Art Therapy has the ability to find language when we can’t access the spoken word. It engages the felt sense through trauma-informed sensory and movement exercises. In stressful situations we hold ourselves together or break … Read More
HIRA DAHAL – author of “Phulmaya”, a new book sharing the stories of thousands of Nepali girls trafficked from the entertainment industry into sexual slavery.
Hira Dahal is one of my greatest heroes. I first met Hira over ten years ago when I was working with the Art to Healing project in Nepal. We continued to meet over the coming six years as I … Read More
Creative Self Care: Tuning in to our Environment part 3 “Making a creative space”
With Dr Carla van Laar MCAT DThAP Feature image credit Carla van Laar In this article I share some of the research into creative spaces, and invite you to make a creative space for yourself, a space to continue your … Read More
SELF CARE through MARTIAL ARTS with Black Belt VICKIE SIMOS at the 2022 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat
“I have worked in many industries over the years, but have stayed true to my two passions – Martial Arts Mental Health, which is the basis of my new business “Thelo” – the Greek translation for, I want, I need. … Read More
HEALING THE TRAUMATISED SPIRIT THROUGH CREATIVE EXPERIENCE – Michael Burge OAM, Keynote Presenter at the 2022 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat
“Experiential methods with the power of spontaneity and creativity, such as psychodrama, can help the traumatized client develop better relationships with the self, rediscover lost roles and reconnect with humanity’ – Michael Burge OAM … The 2022 Creative Mental … Read More
Daring Mel Knight brings DR SKETCHY’S ANTI-ART SCHOOL to the Welcome Dinner 2022 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat
Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Tired of lifeless life drawing classes? Fancy a scribble but not sure where to start? Suffering creative inertia and looking to stoke your lost muse? … Dr Sketchy’s is the world’s premier alternative life … Read More
Creative Self Care: Tuning in to our Environment part 2 “Notice what Nurtures”
With Dr Carla van Laar AThR Feature image credit Carla van Laar In this article I share about my own personal process of painting from life, and invite you to notice what nurtures you in the environment, and to slow … Read More
KIM BILLINGTON – “Stories of Transformation” at the 2022 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat
Narratively inspired author of “A Counsellor’s Companion” and “Counselling Conversations”, Kim Billington, joins the 2022 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat to share an experiential folk tale work shop. … … STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION: DREAMING OFF INTO … Read More
“MATERNAL HOLDING” – Dr Ariel Moy contributes new understandings through Arts Based Research findings
“the creative exploration of holding is a simple, everyday way of accessing significant relational stories, purpose and loving connection or what I call, the mother/child ‘us’” … I was delighted last year when Routledge Publishers invited me to review a … Read More
CREATIVE MENTAL HEALTH – FILM LAUNCH
“2021 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat” is a twelve minute documentary filmed on location in Boon Wurrung Country, South Eastern Victoria, at the event of the same name. This short film features footage and interviews … Read More
Creative Self Care: Tuning in to our Environment part 1 “See a Rainbow”
With Dr Carla van Laar Feature image credit Carla van Laar In this article I share some of my research into how the environments that we live and work in affect us – or our contexts – and I invite … Read More
Victorian State Government agrees to fund Arts Therapy in schools – success for the ACTivate Arts Therapy campaign.
Following the announcement of the new State budget on 20th May, Acting Premier James Merlino announced on breakfast radio that the State Government will be creating a new $200,000 fund to support extra mental health initiatives in schools. He stated … Read More
BOOK LAUNCH: Kim Billington’s “A Counsellor’s Companion: Creative Adventures for Child Counsellors, Parents and Teachers” with illustrations by Tamar Dolev.
I am delighted to be opening speaker at the launch of “A Counsellor’s Companion: Creative Adventures for Child Counsellors, Parents and Teachers”. The book is a wonderfully accessible treasure chest that combines narrative and arts based approaches to working with … Read More
Creative Self Care: Coming to our Senses Part 3 – Mapping the Territory of your Body
With Dr Carla van Laar AThR Feature image credit: Carla van Laar In this article, I share a description of my personal experience of art making to highlight the inter-relationship between art making and sensory awareness. I then invite you … Read More
Creative Self Care: Co-creating – the Art of Living Part 3 “Creative Integration – The Big Picture”
With Dr Carla van Laar AThR Feature image credit Carla van Laar In this article, I invite you to reflect on your journey of self care, and create a “big picture” of you in your life, surrounded by the things … Read More
Creative Self Care: Co-creating – the Art of Living Part 2 “Knowing yourself and what enhances your life”
With Dr Carla van Laar AThR Image credits Carla van Laar In this article, I introduce some of the ways that “life enhancement” has been understood and written about in art therapy literature, and what I discovered about “life enhancement” … Read More