With Dr Carla van Laar AThR Feature image credit Carla van Laar In this article I share some of my findings about how art can facilitate feelings of deep connection, I then invite you to find an artwork that reaches … Read More
#arttherapyPD
Creative Self Care: Relating and Connecting Part 1 “Connecting through art”
With Dr Carla van Laar AThR Feature image credit Carla van Laar In this article I introduce the themes of relationship, connection and co-creation as I investigated them in my Doctoral research. I invite you to engage in a “Self-Collage” … Read More
Creative Self Care: Choosing, changing and continuing Part 3 “Continuing – what am I bringing forward?”
With Dr Carla van Laar AThR Feature image credit Carla van Laar In this article I share some insights from my Doctoral research about bringing things forward as an act of self-continuity. I invite you to engage in a creative … 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
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
‘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
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
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
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
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
Melissa Nelson-Campbell’s lived experience as a woman of colour propelled her to make meaning through working human rights. Now, she empowers multicultural school communities through the transformative potentials of art making.
“As a woman of colour, artist, and art therapist, I am driven to support people from diverse backgrounds yearning to find their voice and be heard.” Melissa Nelson-Campbell Melissa Nelson-Campbell, owner and founder of Draw Inspiration is open about her life … Read More
Dr Carla van Laar. “Standing Strong in our Professional Identity” – Art based and collaborative approaches in individual planning and responding as humanising alternatives to assessments and interventions.
In our recent article, The Balancing Act: Performing Stories of our Practice within Systems of the State, Dr Alisoun Neville and I wrote: “We invite arts therapists to reflect on the values performed by the documents we produce, and to … Read More
Anjali Sengupta – Allow your own Unique Medicine to Emerge through Dance.
Move and be moved in these two dance for wellness workshops with experienced dance/movement therapist and Bollywood for well-being guru, the ever inspiring Anjali Sengupta. … Embodied Self Care- Medicine Drum & Dance “This session is about giving yourself your … Read More
Supervision with Carla in 2021
Just a quick update to let you know what’s happening with Supervision this year… Some things change, some stay the same… What’s the same? Supervision Studio continues ONLINE on Sundays 10am – 12.30pm. 2.5 hours of small group and arts … Read More
Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
We pay our deep respects to the First Peoples of Boon Wurrung Country where we will meet. CREATIVE MENTAL HEALTH FORUM AND SELF CARE RETREAT Friday 14th – Monday 17th May 2021 Inverloch RACV Resort, Bass Coast, Victoria Your host, … Read More
Lee Agius “The Artful Warrior”: Yoga for Self Care at the 2021 Creative Mental Health Forum and Retreat in Inverloch
“incorporate slow mindful movement with your breath that sends a message back to your body which completely supports your nervous system to relax…” … 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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