Yoga_Art_Therapy
Sunshine Coast Alternate & Holistic Health Service
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creativity fosters mental wellbeing
Services
What services do I provide as an Art Therapist?
As an art therapist I provide therapeutic interventions using art activities, including drawing, painting, clay work, and touch drawing for mental health wellbeing.
I specialise in grief and trauma.
Art therapy can help people to resolve conflicts, develop interpersonal skills, manage behaviour, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and achieve insight.
Reasons to see an Art Therapist
You may find it beneficial to see an Art Therapist if you
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are finding it difficult to verbalise or express feelings
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wish to explore your imagination and creativity
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identify blocks and emotional expression
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want to explore personal growth
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want to develop healthy coping skills
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wish to improve self-esteem and confidence
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are wanting to increase communication skills
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recently experienced grief/trauma
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want to share in a safe nurturing environment
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need to improve motor skills and physical co-ordination
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary means of communication. It could be described as psychology with art.
It can offer a different perspective you may not reach by talking things through or problem solving alone.
It's not the only treatment you will find beneficial, and it won't fix everything.
Where do I practice
I don't have a fixed place of work.
I travel around as required.
I'm willing to work overseas and interstate
As a Yoga Teacher I provide
I practice tradition Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga Flow
I use yoga to facilitate preparing the mind and body for art therapy through asanas, pranayama exercises, meditation, yoga nidra and chanting.
Yoga can be extremely effective for healing trauma, because it helps release the tension, anxieties and illnesses which manifest as a result of holding on to the negativity of a past event.
As an Art Therapist and Yoga Teacher, I Do Not:
In Yoga
I won't use hands-on correcting techniques with you; I will carefully instruct/explain entry and exits of all asanas and perform them myself.
I won't tolerate clients who hide medical conditions in order to perform certain yoga poses; I have a yoga/art therapy consent which requires you to include all medical conditions and ailments.
As a Hatha and Ashtanga style yoga teacher I do not predominantly focus on fast flow. I use flow throughout a yoga session, but hold many poses for a at least 5 deep breaths. W hen you hold muscle for an extended time you work it, stretch it and you restrict the flow of blood; holding pose and breathing can also balance CNS and optimise brain function.
In Art Therapy I won't make assumptions and analyse you art
I won't interpret or make assumptions about what your art is about or what is means. I will assist you into looking deeper into certain parts of you work if I feel it's an important part of the healing process. I will ask questions about the creative process and the completed piece.
My Goal
To support you in a safe nurturing environment while you explore and express feelings and emotions that may be difficult to verbalise.
I will give you time to develop your imagination and creativity, new coping skills, improve self-esteem and confidence, identify and clarify issues and concerns, increase communication and identify blocks to emotional expression and growth
Tell you what to do with your art
I will not tell you how you should treat your art after the session has finished; this is for you to decide.
Project any of my own beliefs onto your experience
This is self explanatory! I do not project my own trauma or grief onto you. What you are experiencing is unique and about you.
Confidentiality and Duty of Care
Art Therapists do not disclose confidential information for the purpose of consultation or supervision without clients' explicit consent unless there is a reason to believe that those clients or others are in immediate, severe days to health or life. Any such disclosure must be consistent with laws that pertain to the welfare of clients, their families, and the general public. Art Therapists are legally required to retain clients records for the duration necessary to meet clinical needs or as required by state law.
Risks
As with any process there is a risk of long buried feelings emerging, this can sometimes make a client feel worse before they feel better. This is a valid process and can be worked on using art therapy. There is also a potential for experiencing uncomfortable feelings, emotions or memories, or experiencing discomfort from the art therapy process. There are alternate types of therapy that utilise different approaches, however each therapy has its risks and benefits.
Community Referrals
I accept referrals from outside community/private health practictioners