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, 2020
- Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm
- Location: MAC Hawthorn Studio, 817B Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
- Course fee: $172 incl. GST
I spoke to Jaana to find out a bit more about what makes her tick, how she came to Art Therapy, the values underpinning her work, and what to expect in the upcoming workshops.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to arts therapy?
Born and raised in Hamburg, Germany I first arrived in Australia as a young adventure seeking backpacker and quickly fell in love with the land and a beautiful man, who is now my husband. After travelling and living in Europe and Australia for some time, we have now settled in Richmond with our two children.
art making is a way for emancipating ourselves from outside forces, from society’s influences on our lives and the way we think about ourselves
Art has always been an integral part of my life and the love for art making was born during my childhood while drawing in my bedroom. Art became something I needed in my life to feel calm and centred and fully immersed in my own personal expression. I wanted to be an artist and later studied Fine Arts at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. Throughout my studies and after I had moved to Australia, more and more art making became about the concept, the look and what other people thought, rather than a tactile making experience for which I longed. This longing and struggle to re-discover a state of full immersion within my own art practice led me to study at the MIECAT Institute and I graduated from the Masters Degree in 2015. Since then I have been gathering experience in teaching and running art groups for adults in community and hospital settings as well as private sessions.
Starting this year I have begun with my private practice at Jaana Sahling Art Therapy and simultaneously have been facilitating group Workshops and short courses at Melbourne Art Class. Even though this year has been challenging and I have made a conscious decision to pause and re-access, I am excited to start my Workshops face to face again in December.
I have a genuine enthusiasm for working as an art therapist and love sharing the creative process with others. I get excited by the emergent nature of the creative art process and the many surprises and insights that you can experience during a rich engagement with the many materials, processes and ways of expression. I love that as an Art Therapist I can connect deeply with people and use creative expression in a more communal way, working with groups, or individuals, to give something back and to connect with others is of great importance to me.
In my work as an Art therapist I have been able to use my newfound understanding of the creative process to companion people to experience all aspects of creative expression and hopefully find a way towards their own unique self expression. In my opinion art making is a way for emancipating ourselves from outside forces, from society’s influences on our lives and the way we think about ourselves. I now see the creative process not only as an opportunity to experience the beauty of full immersion and to learn more about our emotions and thoughts but also as a powerful way to practice emancipation and resilience in every aspect of our lives.
How do you describe your approach to arts therapy?
Following the lead of the participants, I companion them through their own enquiry without judgement or prejudice. I have learned to not only listen to words and conversations but to observe body language and gestures of the person in front of me to understand more about their overall mood. I like to take time to really listen and observe in order to find the best ways to communicate and aid the person with their creative process.
I seek to see and take into account all of the person, accepting them for who they are.
The MIECAT Institute guiding principle is based on a person centred therapy model, which highlights the equality between the therapist and client in a non-hierarchical relationship between the participants.
This person centred approach is at the very core of my practice. While working with groups and individuals I always ensure to create an inviting and safe space for sharing the art making process in a way that is respectful of, and responsive to the preferences, needs and values of participants. As much as possible I seek to see and take into account all of the person, accepting them for who they are. The person centred approach supports a respectful and empathetic environment.
Meeting my participants with an honest empathetic approach creates trust and comfort within our relationship. To give the participant the control over their own ways of expression is empowering and leads them to own every part of their process. It creates a space for autonomy and emancipation. I understand that in a nurturing environment, art making and following one’s own individual calling can be an immensely transformative experience. Throughout my own art practice and working with groups and individuals I have learned that art making is a wonderful way to communicate where words are not enough, which enables the expression of emotions that are hard to articulate.
Where is your practice based and who do you work with?
In the inner Melbourne Suburbs. Mainly Richmond and Hawthorn, but I am flexible and open to new locations.
Who would benefit from attending your upcoming workshops?
Adults who are looking for a safe and calm space for reflection and relaxation away from the day-to-day routine. The workshop offers an opportunity to experience art as a way of relaxation, or a tool for reflection and gaining new perspectives.
Upcoming December Workshop:
Creative Reflections – Introduction to Art Therapy Workshop
- Dates: Saturdays; 5-Dec & 12-Dec, 2020
- Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm
- Location: MAC Hawthorn Studio, 817B Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
- Course fee: $172 incl. GST
Seeing myself now – imagining myself tomorrow.
There are going to be many different materials on offer and creative exercises to explore together
I am so excited to run this two-day workshop at the end of this crazy, extremely challenging year. We have all experienced the past 12 months in our own unique ways and I would like to offer participants a chance to pause and reflect on how they are feeling right now, as well as imagining their own vision for their future. Within a safe and nurturing space, I invite my participants to experiment and playfully interact with new ways of being in the world. It is my hope that the Workshop will provide an opportunity to gently explore our emotions and to come away with a new spark or simply a sense of calm, looking forward to the year ahead.
The Workshop will take place in the lovely art studio space of MAC (Melbourne Art Class) in Hawthorn. There are going to be many different materials on offer and creative exercises to explore together. Participants choose the materials they feel most comfortable with and there will be spaciousness and plenty of time to create and share our experiences.
Where can people find more info?
Please go to my Website:
Thank you Jaana!
One Comment
Yariet Anne Peers
One of my most favourite people in the world. I have completed a couple of Jaana’s courses and ALWAYS walk away calm, fulfilled and surprised by my creation or inner discovery. I don’t consider myself a creative at all but in Jaana’s presence and with her support to “just go for it!” I’m always so surprised what she manages to bring out in me.