About
I am Louise (she/her), and I offer private Therapeutic Arts Practice sessions in the inner northern suburbs of Naarm (Melbourne), Australia. I hold a Masters Degree in Creative Arts Practice and am a professional member of ANZACATA (the peak body for Arts Therapists in Australia and New Zealand).
I came to Therapeutic Arts Practice after seeing the benefits of creative exploration for my students while working as a teacher in Primary, Secondary, and Specialist School settings over the last fifteen years. I was struck by the potential for self-learning that engagement with the arts offered and now, feel privileged to be able to work alongside people of all ages as they come to new or deeper understandings about themselves and the ways that they relate to others and the world around them. I firmly believe there is only benefit to be gained from continuing to learn about ourselves throughout our lives and that to do this on our own is an unfair expectation to put upon ourselves.
My practice is centred around you, and I work alongside. I support you in building capacity, personal autonomy, and self-trust, and I value all forms of expression. My practice is inclusive and affirming of people of all abilities, neurodiversities, people from CALD, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA++ backgrounds.
I am committed to a responsive practice that meets the needs of each participant, allowing space and time to develop trust and the sense of safety required to engage in meaningful exploration, which may utilise a range of creative and embodied modalities, including creative writing, movement, and visual arts practices using a range of media, including clay.
I look forward to meeting you and to accompanying you as you discover the benefits of this practice.
Louise
What is Therapeutic Arts Practice?
Therapeutic Arts Practice is about gaining and deepening understandings of your experience of life and relationships.
It is defined by you, your needs and what emerges during our sessions together.
It is an invitation to explore your feelings and experiences and can be focused on a particular area or a broader exploration.
It can be an opportunity to build awareness and skills that have a positive impact on your capacity and wellbeing.
It can be an opportunity to explore behaviours, relationships and patterns that challenge your capacity and wellbeing.
It can be an opportunity to engage in ongoing learning about yourself and how you relate to the world and others.
It can simply be an opportunity to experience connection and safety.
Louise Offers
Sessions for children, young people, and adults.
Individual sessions and shared sessions for people in relationships with one another.
Sessions utilising a range of modalities of creative practice including painting, drawing, collage, ceramics as well as movement, voice, and instrumental music.