WHAT IS ART THERAPY?
For some people, verbally exploring their experiences and challenges comes easily and traditional talk therapies make sense to them. For others, delving into ‘what’s wrong’ is a harder question to tackle. The words might not come easily. Together we can use fine art materials and creative methods to unlock parts of yourself and your challenges to gain a better understanding of who you are. Art and creativity can open parts of ourselves we cannot always easily access. Our words and inner thoughts can be strictly controlled,manipulated and deceptive (predominantly this occurs in the left hemisphere of the brain) but in opening our inner artist (the right side of the brain) the patterns and hurdles that hold us back are shifted and we can move forward.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM AN ART THERAPY SESSION?
All you need to bring is yourself (unless requested before the session). I will bring all materials and resources required. Your/your child’s art might be collected by me at the end of each session to then be presented to you as a record of everything you have explored in session when therapy is completed. Alternatively, you may prefer to keep your work each time. There might also be times you choose to dispose of the work and together we can come up with strategies for doing this.
WHAT AREAS DO I WORK IN?
I work with children, young people and adults from many different backgrounds and cultures who are looking to work on a range of concerns and challenges. These might include (but are not limited to):
Anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, self esteem, mental illness, grief and loss, violence, sleep issues, behavioural concerns, bullying. eating disorders, life stress (work, family, friends etc). family and relationship changes.
WHAT IF I AM NOT ARTISTIC?
As we grow older we generally find ourselves being categorised into ‘arty’ and ‘not arty’. This worsens when we compare the outcomes of our art projects with others’ work (or the final product we imagined before we began) and deem it to be ‘no good’. In our sessions together the end product is not nearly as important as what comes about during the creation of the work. There is no right or wrong/ good or bad. If you can make a mark on a page or on some clay, you can participate in art therapy.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND INFORMATION SECURITY
As with all legal and ethical concerns, I strictly abide by the requirements and guidelines set by the Australian Community Counselling Association (ACCA)
If you have any concerns or questions about how I store your information or how I maintain confidentiality, please enquire via my contact page.
APPOINTMENTS
Please contact me via my contact me page for appointments.
FEE STRUCTURE
50 min Art Therapy session …………………….. $125 (rebates do not apply)