Author Archives: Carla

Gayle King AThR, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.

Gayle King AThR describes how Arts Therapy is especially relevant in a school setting working with young people who have experienced trauma. Sign the Art Therapist = Mental Health Practitioner petition here: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner

Pearl Taylor AThR, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner

Pearl describes how she came to Arts Therapy after being a school art teacher and witnessing the impact engagement in the arts has on the mental health and well-being of students. She shares how she uses arts therapeutic approaches in … Read More

Dr Alisoun Neville, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.

Dr Alisoun talks about her work providing arts therapy with NDIS participants experiencing mental health issues. She highlights how arts therapy is an adaptable approach that makes mental health care a personalised experience, with an emphasis on individual choice and … Read More

Su Mei Tan AThR, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.

Su tells us about her arts therapeutic approach and its benefits, including reduced anxiety and increased relaxation. She explains why it is so important to support the ARTS THERAPIST = MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER campaign. Sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/arts-therapist-mental-health-practitioner

Maggie Date, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner

Maggie talks about her work as an art therapist with children and adults in psychiatric settings and through the NDIS. She shares how she uses creative processes within a relational approach, and the benefits for participants that she witnesses. She … Read More

Maya Fraser, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.

Maya Fraser AThR talks about her work in the regional Victorian La Trobe Community Health Services, the Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) and with NDIS clients, describing how Art Therapy is particularly valued by the community yet she has persistently … Read More

Karryne Hearn, Professional Arts Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner.

In this video Karryne tells us about her work as a Professional Arts Therapist in Ballarat and why the Art Therapist = Mental Health Practitioner campaign is so important. The following role descriptions provide examples of Karryne’s experience working in … Read More

ART THERAPY WHATS ON – August 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

Art Therapy Supervision

Dr Carla van Laar MCAT DTAP AThR – Mental Health Practitioner

Here are some examples of my positions working within organisations as a Mental Health Practitioner: Principal Therapist, VincentCare Young Adults Counselling Service 2016 – 2018 Generate referrals liaising with key stakeholders who are housing service providers Provide individual therapy for … Read More

Presence and Embodiment in Art Therapy – ONLINE professional development workshop

Sunday 16th August Presence and Embodiment in Art Therapy 10am – 4pm Lunch 12.30 – 1.30pm 15 minute morning and afternoon tea breaks $125 pandemic discount Through our art based activities, we can have a heightened awareness of our embodied … Read More

Diversity in the psyche of art therapy – Mira Melaluca.

Feature image: Mira Melaluca In theory I love art therapy. I have a background in dance, painting, psychology, and both contemplative and ceremonial spirituality, so the most natural place for me to blend these pursuits would seem to be some … Read More

Boon Wurrung Cultural Healing: Bass Coast, Victoria. An interview with Sonia Weston Hume.

Feature image: National Dance ceremony 2019Dannielle Cockerill, Sonia Weston Hume and Kourtney Cockerill “Celebrate, teach, yarn, bring Aboriginal Culture into our community. I want to share stories – good and bad. Education and truth telling is important for us all … Read More

Cultural Collaboration – Reconciliation Rocks.

Wadawurrung woman and cultural consultant, Bonnie Chew, and regional art therapist and teacher, Karryne Hearn, talk about working together in their project for secondary school students in Ballarat. Can you please introduce yourself and anything you like readers to know … Read More

ART THERAPY WHATS ON – July 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

Regional Arts Therapists review the GRAT Experiential Workshop: “Art Therapy First Aid – ONLINE”.

Feature image: regional attendees at the online professional development during the peak of pandemic lockdown. April 2020. “GRAT” – Group of Regional Registered Arts Therapists was formed in 2007. The networking and professional development group is member led by volunteers, and … Read More

Demystifying Arts Based Research – July Professional Development Workshop ONLINE

Sunday 19th July 10am – 4pm 1 hour lunch and 2 x 15 minute breaks Interactive, experiential learning that includes art activities and small group discussions Demystifying Art Based Research Art in research, Art-informed research, Art as research, Art based … Read More

New York Art dealer Carly Aguilera makes exposure for women artists her global mission – and interviews me!

Carly Aguilera of ‘South Art Dealer’, New York, specialises in promoting the work of South American artists. Now she has a new mission to create opportunities for women artists around the world to have our artworks shown and seen. Her … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

“Art Therapy First Aid: Experiential Video Workshop”.

A Professional Development training resource for Art Therapists and friends of Art Therapy. I am very happy to launch this new FREE training video! This is based on live footage filmed at the February Art Therapy First Aid training event … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

“Meeting Places: Art Based, Collaborative Goal Setting and Therapeutic Reviews”

Sunday 28th June, 10am – 4pm Professional Development Workshop Institutional practices often require art therapists 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 … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

Self Care Video: “Earth Day Art Activities” – Interview with American Videographer and Art Therapist, Megs Mitts.

“I post videos because I want to encourage people to receive the same benefits others and I receive from these processes. I hear from viewers every once in a while, and they report feeling a sense of calm just from … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

More Dates to get “unstuck”- Supervision Studio goes Monthly

Existing dates for Supervision Studio have been booked out! The bi-monthly ‘supervision you have been dreaming of’ has been so welcomed by the arts therapy community that I have made new dates available. There are now places available on Sunday … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

LOCKDOWN view

Carla van Laar (20/05/2020). “LOCKDOWN view”. Ink and oil paint on canvas. 50cm x 50cm. Inverloch, Australia. This view has become very familiar during lockdown. It is the view from my ZOOM room where I have been spending so much … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

Solo Cinco Tesoros – Only Five Treasures

Sister Maria Centeno.  (11/05/2020).  “Solo Cinco Tesoros” (“Only Five Treasures”). I used 2B pencil on cardboard of thread paper. Size: 21.5 cm X 28 cm.  I am Venezuelan, born in Zaraza – Guárico state.  I am currently living in Guarenas.  “Solo … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

An angel on earth.

Maitte Pérez (09/05/2020) “An angel on earth”. Made in pencil on Caribbean block cardboard, painted with wooden crayons and pastel chalks. I was born in Venezuela currently living in Caracas. This work of art was made as a tribute to … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

Memories.

Tomas Centeno. (05/09/2020). “Memories”. I used watercolor and brushes applied on bond cardboard. Size: 31 cm X 23.4 cm. I am Venezuelan, born in Zaraza – Guárico state, currently living in Caracas. “Memories” is an artwork that I made in … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

Fire and Water.

Anna Jane Wilson, (Completed 6th May 2020). Height 76 cm Width 55. Acrylic paint. Australia. This piece I started during the 2020 bush fire and completed during Covid 19 lockdown. The title Fire and Water represents both periods. The flower represents … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

Los desafíos de nuestra vida – The challenges of life.

Daniel Zapata, (23/04/2020). “Los desafíos de nuestra vida” –  elaborada a lápiz, hoja blanca reciclada, pintada con creyones de madera. Tamaño: 77,5 cm x 84 cm. Soy de nacionalidad venezolana,  vivo en la capital – Ciudad Caracas La principal fuente … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

El comportamiento Humano – Human Behaviour.

Daniel Zapata, (23/04/2020). “El comportamiento Humano” – elaborada a lápiz en cartulina de block Caribe, pintada con creyones de madera y tizas pastel para reforzar detalles. Tamaño: 35,3 cm x 28 cm. Soy de nacionalidad venezolana y residenciada en la … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

I see you, I know that you are sad that life as you know it: has gone.

Carolann Vassallo, (Created during March – April 2020  whilst staying at home due to the COVID19 restrictions). “I see you, I know that you are sad that life as you know it: has gone”. Art work was created through collage … Read More

Art Therapy Supervision

I create and give witness to my journey – I am with you, I give you permission to cry.

Carolann Vassallo, (Created during March – April 2020  whilst staying at home due to the COVID19 restrictions). “I create and give witness to my journey – I am with you, I give you permission to cry”. Art work was created … Read More