The ACTivate Arts Therapy campaign began when numbers of experienced and well qualified Arts Therapists were told they could not apply for the new ‘Mental Health Practitioner in Schools’ positions because their profession is not listed in the 2014 Victorian … Read More
Author Archives: Carla
Jaya Narayan’s “Amplifying your unique voice” – Project 2021
Arts Therapist Jaya Narayan is on a mission to amplify and mainstream the voices of creative therapists who identify as BIPOC, members of minority ethnic groups, LGBTQI, or peripheral in any other way. She says, “My intention is to video … Read More
The Art of Relationship, Connection and Co-creation – reflections on my final PD workshop of 2020
This topic took on new meaning in the context of Victoria’s re-opening after the pandemic restrictions In November 2019 I planned a whole calendar of Professional Development training workshops for 2020. I was inspired to share some of the significant … Read More
Jaana Sahling offers an introduction to Art Therapy Workshop in December
Are you feeling the urge to try Art Therapy yourself? Jaana Sahling is offering introductory Art Therapy workshops during December – a perfect opportunity to treat yourself. Creative Reflections – Introduction to Art Therapy Workshop Dates: Saturdays; 5-Dec & 12-Dec, … Read More
ACTivate Arts Therapy community PICNIC Sunday 6th December 12.30 – 2.30pm Princes Park, North Carlton
You are invited! Please join members of the ACTivate Arts Therapy community for a friendly casual catch up and debrief, celebrate, get some perspective on 2020 with an art-full picnic. Where: By the pond at the Northern end of Princes … Read More
Save the Date! “Creative Mental Health” Forum and Self Care Retreat May 2021
We pay our deep respects to the First Peoples of Boon Wurrung Country where we will meet. Friday 14th – Monday 17th May 2021 Inverloch RACV Resort, Bass Coast, Victoria Experience for yourself how: Creative practices support mental health Contemporary … Read More
ACTivate Arts Therapy Campaign – Community Gathering – JOIN US!
Wednesday, 4 November 2020 at 5.30pm Melbourne time TO JOIN: EMAIL ME carlavanlaar@gmail.com I will send you a ZOOM invitation Please join me and the other lead campaigners Alisoun Neville and Alana Stewart this coming Wednesday. I will give a … Read More
FACE to FACE Professional Development is BACK in Brunswick with Carla
I’m so excited to be able to share the final Professional Development workshop for 2020 with you IN PERSON FACE TO FACE in BRUNSWICK! I am offering the 50% discount for this final 2020 workshop because you deserve it simply … Read More
ART THERAPY WHATS ON – November 2020
ART THERAPY WHATS ON is a monthly directory of events, workshops, professional development and gigs BY and FOR Arts Therapists. Please send your contributions to carlavanlaar@gmail.com Include date and time, title, location, facilitator, cost. 100 words and a photo or … Read More
ACTivate Arts Therapy speaks with the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System
Today, Dr Alisoun Neville AThR, Caroline Liuzzi (EO Creative Art Therapy Australia) and I met with representatives of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. We were met warmly, and informed that we did not need to convince our … Read More
BOOK REVIEW – Dr Ariel Moy shares her experience of Carla van Laar’s “Seeing Her Stories”
Seeing Her Stories: An Arts Based Inquiry by Dr Carla van Laar Review by Dr Ariel Moy Seeing Her Stories is a surprising book. Carla begins with a simple question: what might happen when a woman’s stories are seen? She … Read More
Jill Gallagher AO supports the ACTivate Arts Therapy campaign
The ACTivate Arts Therapy campaign is honoured to receive this endorsement from Jill Gallagher AO, CEO of Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) and former Treaty Advancement Commissioner for Victoria. Thanks Jill.
ART THERAPY WHATS ON – October 2020
ART THERAPY WHATS ON is a monthly directory of events, workshops, professional development and gigs BY and FOR Arts Therapists. Please send your contributions to carlavanlaar@gmail.com Include date and time, title, location, facilitator, cost. 100 words and a photo or … Read More
Getting Creative with Trauma: Part 2
ONLINE Professional Development Workshop 10am – 4pm Sunday 18th October 2020 1 hour lunch + 2 x 15 minute breaks $125 per person – pandemic discount • Art based responses to grief, loss and trauma• Intergenerational relationships• Multi-dimensional perspectives• Creating … Read More
“Sometimes we don’t have the words”
Don’t have the words to explain Arts Therapy? Watch this. Please help support the campaign by sharing widely. Thank you Pearl Taylor AThR for this beautiful animation.
ART THERAPY WHATS ON – September 2020
ART THERAPY WHATS ON is a monthly directory of events, workshops, professional development and gigs BY and FOR Arts Therapists. Please send your contributions to carlavanlaar@gmail.com Include date and time, title, location, facilitator, cost. 100 words and a photo or … Read More
Prof. Patrick McGorry urges Government: “Activate Arts Therapy”.
I respectfully urge the Victorian government to expand its definition of “Mental Health Practitioner” to include “Professional Arts Therapists”. Prof Patrick McGorry Prof. Patrick McGorry is Professor of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and Director of Orygen … Read More
Brodie Caporn, Melbourne Musician and Professional Arts Therapist in training.
Brodie gifts us a theme song for this campaign! “I’d like to see, Arts Therapy”. AND she tells us why this campaign is so important for the health and well being of Victoria’s children, with a personal plea to the … Read More
Debbie – lived experience of Arts Therapy for recovery.
Debbie shares from her lived experience how Arts Therapy has been an important part of her recovery from serious mental distress, and is an ongoing integral part of her mental health care. She advocates for including Arts Therapists as Mental … Read More
Dayne Beams, AFL Footballer, explains how Arts Therapy has been a game changer in his own mental health
“Arts Therapy showed me that I can use the arts to cope with difficult thoughts and emotions, to help me feel calm and productive, and to strengthen my personal relationships” Dayne Beams Dayne speaks out in support of the current … Read More
Chris Petrie, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Chris shares how he witnesses increased self-esteem and enhanced relationships in his work as a Professional Arts Therapist with NDIS participants. As a former art teacher, he explains some of the differences between an art class and arts therapy. He … Read More
Svetlana Bykovec, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Svet tells us about her work as an Arts Therapist with CATA, highlighting the adaptability of arts therapy and the power of the arts to engage when working with young people. She explains how CATA is currently offering FREE online … Read More
Eric Zhang, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Eric describes how Arts Therapy can support student well-being in schools and shares a message of hope for young people who might be going through a hard time at the moment. Sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner
Marnie Weule and Tara Harriden: Aboriginal Women leaders in Australian Art Therapy.
Feature image credit: Tara Harriden, “It’s in my blood.” “If you look closely at the dots that make up this painting, they have raised ‘lines’ which are reminiscent of blood vessels and, on another level, are representative of the songlines … Read More
“Chill Skills”, anxiety prevention program in secondary schools. A Mental Health initiative by a Professional Arts Therapist.
Sign and share the ART THERAPIST = MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER petition here: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problems experienced by young people. In Australia, anxiety disorders are estimated to affect about one in every 10 young … Read More
Katishe Grudnoff AThR, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Katishe shares about the many therapeutic contexts she has worked as a Mental Health Practitioner. She highlights her work with young people and how, as the mother of a child in a public school she wants the option of arts … Read More
Arts Therapist = Mental Health Practitioner Campaign
WE ARE GOOD TO GO – HELP US TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE IN CRISIS THE AIM OF OUR CAMPAIGN: Expand the definition of Mental Health Practitioner in the 2014 Victorian Mental Health Act to include ‘Professional Arts Therapist’. Mobilise a … Read More
The Gods in a time of Corona – Bernie Neville’s latest work.
Bernie Neville, author of “Educating Psyche” and “The Life of Things” gifts us this gem of a book complete with wit, wisdom and scholarship. Neville’s own intimate relationship with the Greek gods is revealed in his narrative depicting 2020 as … Read More
Anja Zimmermann – interview. What can we learn from the Netherlands about Bachelor level Arts Therapy training?
I met my friend and pen-pal, Anja Zimmermann online! We have never met in person or even spoken, but we have become friends by writing to each-other. Anja is an educator and researcher in Arts Therapy training in the Netherlands. … Read More
Lee Agius AThR, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.
Lee shares how she has worked in multi-disciplinary teams as a Mental Health Practitioner with MIND Australia in Melbourne. Sign the Art Therapist = Mental Health Practitioner petition here: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner