Art therapy & mental health social work
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN YOUR ART THERAPIST
Taking this first step; exploring the idea of seeking help can often be the hardest one to take. It can be daunting looking for a counsellor, and certainly for many people, this is the biggest step to take. It is natural that from time to time, we all need a little extra support, from someone outside our usual network. In this unique collaboration, we can find meaning in what is going on for you, helping to reach your goals and find a new ‘wholeness’ in your life.
WHAT IS ART THERAPY?
I think when people hear Art Therapy, they think about the old school Art Therapy approach, where the therapist would sit back, analyse the colours and tell them what they are thinking. Scrap this idea!! This is not art therapy today. Art Therapy is about giving you a different way of communicating and expressing yourself. It will look really different for each person. I like to think about it in the sense that it allows you to Experience, Process and Explore using art.
Sometimes words aren’t enough, or there simply are no words to describe a situation. This modality allows you to move past the words and explore this using a variety of art mediums. The other big point to make is that you don’t have to be good at art to do art therapy. It is not about what you end up with, it is more about the process. It is about using colours/shapes/lines/images to express and explore. Some of the materials I have in my toolkit are; collage, paint, watercolours, graphite, charcoal, pastels, printing, textiles, clay, and scratch art (just to name a few)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN ART THERAPIST
To become an Accredited Art Therapist in QLD you are required to comply with the ANZCATA (Australian and New Zealand Creative Art Therapy Association) requirements.
ANZACATA recognises training for art and arts therapists from the approved courses offered by Universities and Colleges in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong. This training comprises a minimum two year masters degree with a component of 750 supervised clinical hours placement. Graduates of these programmes are eligible for Professional Registration with ANZACATA.
When looking for the right therapist for you, think about: qualifications, approach to therapy, experience & areas of expertise. Finding the right therapist is important, and can take time.
Recognizing this, I offer a FREE 20 minute consult prior to the first session where you can ask any questions and gauge if you feel I'm the right therapist for you.
OUR APPROACH & WHAT I DO
In my practice, I draw on both the Social work & Art Therapy frameworks to inform how I work. As an accredited mental health social worker, I’m expected to be well informed on a range of mental health conditions, evidence-based treatments and I’m required to complete professional development yearly to ensure my practice is kept up to date and well informed.
Social work is broad, and the key principles I bring into my work are transparency, collaboration with the client, humility and a genuine and kind approach. For more information on the Social Work profession please see the AASW website. https://www.aasw.asn.au/