Welcome

Externalise your internal world by using colour, lines, shapes, symbols, textures and movement. Access the creative, imaginative side of you to more effectively solve problems, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self awareness, manage behaviours or addictions, develop social skills, reduce stress and anxiety and increase self esteem and gain more perspective. Explore how you can use art as therapy which uses images as a metaphor through a creative “right brain” approach to understand you and your life.

Everyday we live under pressure: the pressure to be more and do more. All around us our world is busy, complicated and stressful. And when we are at odds with our thoughts and emotions - when what we believe about ourselves and our lives is negative and harmful - it all becomes much, much harder.

When we can move comfortably with our thoughts and emotions, we become better prepared for those times that are challenging and painful. We learn that there are ways to regulate our feelings, and sometimes it is as simple as reaching to seek help from a professional when ‘the going gets tough.’

MOMENTS OF IMPACT

There are times in our lives that we experience life triggers, or as I call them, ‘moment’s of impact.’ Maybe an intimate relationship has ended, a serious accident has occurred, or you feel ‘stuck’ and are unsure about what happens next. It is in these moments that we look for support and guidance to make sense of it all, to grow and make positive changes appropriate for us.

Presenting conditions could look like:

Trauma | Grief | Anxiety | Depression
PTSD | Self esteem | Chronic Illness
Burn Out | Stress | Life Transition

I believe we all have this internal dialogue - this inner knowing - that is ready at all times to help us move forward. I constantly see this intuitive knowledge supporting my clients, supporting them to make new life choices, and understand how different their lives can be. I see my clients shaping their own lives through self-empowerment.

I CAN HELP

I use Art Therapy as a way to assist you to safely creatively express yourself. This expressive therapy can help you to gently contain difficult or challenging situations by finding a way to cope with memories and triggers. It also supports you emotionally as you stabilise and strengthen your sense-of-self by communicating through the language and reflection of creative art expression.

Art Therapy is the deliberate use of creative expression to address physical, psychological and emotional needs using art as therapy. This creative process can help in areas such as: fostering self expression, creating coping skills, managing stress with mindfulness and strengthening sense-of-self.

Art Therapy becomes an empowering process which allows you to make meaning of your experiences, as well as discover a sense of grounding, strength, understanding and hope.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM ART THERAPY?

Art Therapy can help an extensive range of areas, it is beneficial for children, adolescents and adults including the elderly. It can help people to find their life's purpose, identify passion and find greater fulfillment in life. It is supportive in any life event.

Art Therapy can help with physical and emotional wellness including trauma, PTSD, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, cope with stress, and uncertainty, build self esteem, modify behaviours and addictions, balance work and life, identify passion and purpose, enhance creativity and work productivity, build resilience, build deeper authentic connections.

WHAT DOES AN ART THERAPY SESSION LOOK LIKE?

At the beginning of the session you may talk a little bit about an issue that is current in your life, or a past experience that you cannot seem to move on from, or you may not talk at all and prefer to just “do some art” and we explore together what emerges.

I listen to you - not what I think is going on, or what I think you should be working on. I listen to what bought you to art therapy in the first place, and together we work out a plan for how to progress to meet your needs and desired outcomes.  Most people talk a little bit, do some expressive art and talk a little bit more at the end.

DO I HAVE TO BE ARTISTIC?

No, you do not need to be creative or artistic at all to receive the maximum benefits from your art therapy sessions. Art Therapy is about you expressing what’s going on for you - being able to paint like Picasso isn’t as important as being honest and present to the session.

HOW DOES ART HELP IN THERAPY?

When a therapy session is facilitated by an experienced and qualified Art Therapist, that creative expression can deeply support in releasing tension, reduce stress and express difficult or overwhelming feelings safely. It also provides you with the opportunity to step back and view the problem or issue from a new perspective, and integrate experiences holistically.

HOW LONG IS A SESSION?

An Art Therapy session is usually 1 hour in length.

HOW LONG BEFORE I CAN EXPECT TO SEE RESULTS FROM MY SESSIONS?

Everyone is unique and therefore results vary depending on many factors including the presenting issue, self awareness, external factors such as home and work environment, length of time you have been experiencing the symptoms, age it developed, and how long you have been living like this.  I have had some people say they feel immediate, powerful benefits after the first session, other people feel it more subtly and may require weekly or fortnightly sessions over a period of months. It depends on your individual needs and your goals for therapy.