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
News
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
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
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
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
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
2021 Creative Mental Health Forum brings 60 Arts Therapists to Boon Wurrung country, South Gippsland, Australia
https://youtu.be/I302-fmzMUY Sixty Creative Arts Therapists from all over Victoria and interstate gathered on the traditional lands of the Boon Wurrung People in Inverloch for the first Australian summit of its kind from 14th – 17th May 2021. “We want more … Read More
Creative Self Care: Coming to our Senses Part 2 – Drawing Breath
With Dr Carla van Laar AThR Feature image credit Carla van Laar In this article I introduce the links between creative practices, mindful approaches, and traditional healing practices. I then invite you to use the process of drawing your breath … Read More
Supervision Studio 2021 – BOOK YOUR DATES NOW
Supervision Studio $150 – 2.5 hours ONLINE Supervision Studio Sundays 10.00am – 12.30pm Art based and experiential methods for reflective practice Small groups in an online studio environment This is the supervision you have been dreaming of – attend from … Read More
Creative Arts Therapy and the NDIS – new training offers from Dr Alisoun Neville
I want to work with NDIS Participants For therapeutic practitioners considering registration Friday 4 June, 1pm – 4pm ($150; 4 hours CPD) Cost: $150 … Have you been thinking about registering for NDIS but not sure where to begin? Are you confused … Read More
Creative Self Care: Coming to our Senses Part 1 – relaxation
With Dr Carla van Laar AThR Feature image credit: Carla van Laar In this series of articles, I invite you to embark on a creative journey of self care. I include gentle experiential and arts based processes and activities that … Read More
‘The Artist’ or ‘The Critic’ – the Judged or the Judge; why we need more roles in our repertoire when it comes to art.
Dr Carla van Laar AThR most of us have been socialised from a very early age to develop only two roles in our repertoire when it comes to art – “The Artist” or “The Critic”… The result can be that … Read More
Healing the core wound through the arts – with Jemima Beaumont-Robberds AThR
Imagine… what would it feel like if you could accept more of yourself and live life with greater ease and confidence? Do you struggle to with low self-worth, lack of confidence or showing up authentically? Is it difficult for you … Read More
Arts Therapists Recognised by Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System
Our voices are part of a chorus who want greater choice for people in managing their own mental health care, and greater inclusion for Arts Therapists as highly skilled and valued members of Victoria’s Mental Health Workforce. Tuesday the 2nd … Read More
Here’s the Evidence: Employing Arts Therapists in Schools is Good for Student Mental Health.
Prepared by Dr Carla van Laar and Dr Lisa Mosely for the ACTivate Arts Therapy Campaign Evidence for the efficacy of Arts Therapy in mental health and wellbeing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the effectiveness of the arts … Read More
Jane Burns: “Looking at our Practice through the Lens of Sustainability”
“creative expression intersects with environmental and social issues, climate activism and wellbeing in nature” Jane Burns The 2021 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat is delighted to welcome award winning Environmental and Sustainability Educator Jane Burns as a … Read More
PROGRAM: 2021 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat
14th – 17th May 2021 We pay our deep respects to the First Peoples of Boon Wurrung Country where we will meet. Inverloch RACV Resort, 70 Cape Patterson Inverloch Rd, Inverloch, Victoria. … Our Commitment to Sustainability We are mindful … Read More
Dr Alisoun Neville: “Look again” – how can we see in new ways, with our words?
“I remember standing on a street corner with the black painter Beauford Delaney down in the Village waiting for the light to change, and he pointed down and said, “Look.” I looked and all I saw was the water. And … Read More
Natalie Poole: Ebb and Flow- the rhythms of activation and settling
Natalie Poole is a midwife of the dance floor. Sometimes you need a little help to birth your vital, expressive, and creative self. Natalie Poole, sometimes known as “Twirling Wolf”, is a seemingly bottomless well of energy for dance, dance … Read More
Michelle Smith RN – “Warriors and Peace Makers”: Cultural Identities, Connections, Strength and Resilience.
“Healing is grounded in our cultural identities and connections and builds on our strengths and resilience” Michelle Smith RN Michelle is a true community worker. For over 30 years she has worked consistently in Aboriginal programs through the arts and … Read More
Join Jiancong (Eric) Zhang in “Unfolding Art Therapy”
As an artist, Eric fell in love with paper folding (origami) as a form of artistic reflection. Influenced by his earliest experiences of learning origami from his mother, the medium is closely connected to this mother-child relationship. He believes that … Read More
Emma van Daal (nee Hodges) – Contemplating the radical potential of the therapeutic space.
“The individual is…not prior to their environment but codetermined with it, constituted within and through the patterned interaction of affects and movements and changes of bodies in relationships” Duschinsky et al., 2015 Emma van Daal joins us as a presenter … Read More
Svetlana Bykovec: Nature and Replenishing the “Well”
“How does your relationship to Earth inform your creative/professional work?” Svetlana Bykovec Svetlana Bykovec AThR joins us as a facilitator at the 2021 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat. She shares: “I am lead Art Therapist for Creative … Read More
Trish Thompson: The Co-Creative Process of Writing Together – Shining a Light on the Relationship between Client and Therapist
“Practice wisdom points to the relationship between the therapist and client as the main driver of change, but we don’t often hear the voice of the client and their experience of the therapeutic relationship” Trish Thompson Esteemed psychotherapist Trish Thompson … Read More
Chris Petrie AThR brings you UPBEAT BUCKET DRUMMING
“Therapeutic value is gained when people gather to share creative experiences. When people are witnessed, encouraged and feel open to be themselves, they feel the upbeat benefits of therapeutic group drumming”. Chris Petrie What do you get when you mix … Read More
Professor Dan Harris: Creative Mental Health Special Guest Presenter
The Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat is honoured to welcome Professor Dan Harris as a Special Guest Presenter. In December 2020, Dan posted this ground breaking news: “So today I got promoted to full professor. I’m my … Read More
Dr. Amanda Musicka-Williams: “Imitate, Innovate, Become” How Dramatherapy supports positive self- image and communal belonging
“Imitate, Innovate, Become“ Dr Amanda Musicka-Williams brings her expertise in drama and well-being to the Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat in the “Imitate, Innovate, Become” workshop. In this workshop participants will experience the role method of dramatherapy … Read More