#healingarts

“Welcome to Country and Cultural Discovery Walk” with Sonia Weston.

Get ready for a very personal experience being Welcomed to Country by Sonia Weston at the 2025 Creative Mental Health Forum and Collective Care Retreat in the beautiful coastal town of Inverloch. … Read More

“Promoting Creative Healing and Preventing Human Trafficking” with Nepalese Activist and Psychologist, Anuradha Acharya.

Anuradha, or ‘Anu’ is a compassionate psychologist with over 15 years of experience dedicated to supporting survivors of violence, sexual exploitation, and trafficking in Nepal. Her unwavering commitment focuses on helping survivors heal and grow after these traumas. This has led Anu to discover and embrace arts-based and creative approaches as healing modalities. … Read More

“Awaken Your Senses: the ancient art of Besom-Making” with Kim Wren and Lindy Schneider..

This hands-on experience, led by well-loved and experienced Art and Equine Therapists Kim Wren and Lindy Schneider, offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of creativity, nature, and mental health. … Read More

“Making our Marks”: ND Affirming Creative Arts Therapy with Freya Pinney.

Making Our Marks: Reflections on ND Affirming practice by neurodivergent creative arts therapists explores the perspectives of neurodivergent identifying CATs and what ND affirming practice means to them.

This research project involves 7 ND identifying CATs participating in collaborative co-inquiries and interviews. … Read More

Printmaking: The Nature of Reciprocity with Melinda Jane and Emma Fayelecaun.

How might we bring ourselves into meaningful relationships with other bodies, both human and non-human, using embodiment, reciprocity and expressive play?

Using creative printmaking as our primary modality, the invitation will be to explore connection, kinship and reciprocal relationships, with place, with materials and with others. … Read More

Outdoor Play Therapy with Kim Wood, Founder of Heartwood Health Farm.

Outdoor Play Therapy with Kim Wood – experience and learn about it for yourself at the 2025 Creative Mental Health Forum.     Introducing Kim Wood Meet Kim Wood, a biologist turned therapist, with a deep-rooted passion for working with … Read More

RADICAL CREATIVITY with Dr Carla van Laar and Melanie Knight

Rhythm in Flow – Dance Meditation   Dancing is a way of knowing ourselves beyond the physical. Dancing is a way of processing what is stored in the body Dancing is a way of integrating change Dancing is a way … Read More

RHYTHM IN FLOW with Jodie Rahda Lynch

Rhythm in Flow – Dance Meditation   Dancing is a way of knowing ourselves beyond the physical. Dancing is a way of processing what is stored in the body Dancing is a way of integrating change Dancing is a way … Read More

CRAFTING IDENTITY – A BARBIE ART THERAPY WORKSHOP with Michelle Morgan and Alana Stewart

Crafting Identities – a Barbie Art Therapy Workshop   Recently, Mattel released Art Therapist Barbie. She’s the first Barbie in a mental health profession. She’s young, light-skinned, casually dressed, sits on the floor, works with a child, and has similar … Read More

TEXTURAL TRUENESS: LIVED AND LIVING EXPERIENCE with Bree Till

Textural Trueness: Authenticity, Preservation and Permeable Boundaries of Lived and Living Experiences as Sustainable Resources to Support Diverse Populations.     Bree Till is a carer and art therapist with training and experience in advocacy, governance, neurodiversity, and systemic engagement. … Read More

ART THERAPY IN POST-CONFLICT RECONCILIATION AND DETAINEE REHABILITATION with Chanudi Wickramasinha

Exploring the Role of Art Therapy in Post-Conflict Reconciliation and Detainee Rehabilitation     Art Therapist, Chanudi Wickramasinha is joining us in May 2024 to share learnings from her fascinating work with ex-militants. Chanudi is a well-respected practitioner in the … Read More

GOOD OLD TAVERN CHOIR with Tania Balil

Join Tania for an Afternoon of Active Music Making and Group Performance     Hosts of the 2024 Creative Mental Health Forum are delighted to be joined by Tania Balil musician and music therapist, with over two decades experience in … Read More

ADAPTABLE DRAMA FOR ARTS THERAPY with Steve Wiegerink & Rebecca Vandyk-Hamilton

“The Magic If” – What if a drama teacher and arts and health practitioner joined forces to co-create together?     Meet Steve Wiegerink and Rebecca Vandyk-Hamilton Rebecca and Steve are the current creative directors of the ‘Over the Top … Read More

STRENGTHENING THE VESSEL with Ann Soo Lawrence

Strengthening the Vessel in the Ebb and Flow: Creative approaches in working with refugees and asylum seeker experiences.     Hosts of the 2024 Creative Mental Health Forum are delighted to be joined byAnn Soo Lawrence Social Worker, Creative Arts … Read More

PLAYBACK THEATRE LIVE AND REAL with A/Prof Drew Bird

Playback Theatre – Live and Real     The Creative Mental Health Forum and Collective Care Retreat is delighted  to welcome Associate Professor, Dramatherapist Drew Bird as a specialist workshop presenter at our 2024 event in Boon Wurrung Country, Inverloch. … Read More

BIRTHING THE NEW PARADIGM, TOGETHER with Marianne Wobcke

Birthing the new paradigm, together.     Hosts of the 2024 Creative Mental Health Forum are honoured to be joined by Indigenous Midwife, award wining Arts and Health Practitioner and PhD Researcher, Marianne Wobcke, as a special guest facilitator. During … Read More

RECRUITING A CREATIVE OR EXPERIENTIAL THERAPIST TO YOUR TEAM?

Introducing PACFA’s College of Creative and Experiential Therapies     Dear Employer, Team Leader, or Manager, Introducing PACFA’s College of Creative and Experiential Therapies   I am pleased to inform you of the establishment of the College of Creative and … Read More

FELTING FIBRES INTO BEING with Megan Fromholtz

Felting Fibres into Being     The sensory nature of felting has many appeals to all ages, abilities and situations. Whether you are creating felt yourself, to use in imaginative play, or guiding clients through the felting journey to find … Read More