Do you work with adults?
Yes, we primarily facilitate offerings for adults. From art therapy, counselling and life coaching to workshops, courses, retreats and professional development, we have offerings for every season of adult life.
Do you work with children?
Yes, we provided art therapy and play therapy sessions for children. With qualifications in teaching and early childhood education, we provide informed and meaningful opportunities for children to explore their inner and outer worlds in a safe, nurturing and playful environment.
“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously permit others to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
— Marianne Williamson
What is the difference between Life Coaching and Counselling?
Life Coaching is goals-oriented and focuses specifically on asking the individual valuable questions about their life, what they want to achieve and why it is important to them. Life coaching often involves ‘action plans’ which describe ‘how’, ‘what with’, ‘where’ and ‘when’ the individual will take steps towards their goal. Life coaching is action-oriented and contributes a high level of accountability.
Counselling explores both the inner and outer experiences of the individual/dou or group. Counselling focuses on wellbeing and wholeness through explorations of experience, meaning-making, emotions, needs and consequences. Exploring how lives are influenced and impacted by thinking, culture, relationships and community is key to holistic counselling, which works to solve problems and support people through difficult times such as; relationship issues, addictions, grief and loss, navigating change and much more.
“It is difficult to convey in words the depth and power of the expressive arts process, really you must taste it to understand it.”
— Natalie Rogers PhD
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy is the process by which emotions, wisdom, experiences and understandings too deep to be expressed in words are articulated through the arts.
Once expressed in a sensory form one’s experiences can be translated into spoken language by describing the artwork.
By giving words to the deep and previously inexpressible experiences of the inner world, one gains insight and understanding that leads to healing and transformation.
What Happens in an Art Therapy Session?
At the beginning of the session the practitioner will gently ask you how you are and what is going on for you. You will then be offered an art-making prompt relating to what you are going through. You will be given specific instructions and the art materials you will need (you do not need art skills or experience).
Your practitioner will give you some space and time to create your artwork, they will then rejoin you and ask you to describe what you have created and what you see in your artwork. The practitioner will take notes and reflect back to you important words and discoveries you have expressed about your art and what you are experiencing in your life.
As a result of this process, you will gain new insights, experience a fresh perspective and grow in understanding about yourself and your situation, empowering you to move forward in your life with wisdom and confidence.
Below is a video clip by the College for Clinical and Educational Art Therapy (CECAT) showing snippets of the art therapy process. Our Practitioners Heidi Franklin & Nettie Shue have both studied Art Therapy through CECAT.