#arttherapy

6 Months of Activism – Highlights of the ACTivate Arts Therapy Campaign

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

Seeing Her Stories – FREE ebook launch!

My Doctoral research, findings and implications for practice. SEEING HER STORIES is a full colour book of illustrated essays that present my Doctoral Research into sharing women’s stories through art.  “Seeing her stories” combines my fascination with the power of … Read More