“When I try to breathe, I start to drown. It’s hard to put words to this piece. When I approached the paper, I truly just drew without any thought. I’ve fallen behind in uni and it’s an overwhelming, smothering kind of feeling and I feel as if this piece encapsulated that.” This participant gave me permission to share #creativeandexperientialtherapies #artheals #emergentart #arthelps #creativetherapy

Throughout August, this puppet became a collaborative artwork, with people adding their own marks, colours, patterns, symbols and ideas. Each contribution became part of the evolving piece, creating something shaped by many hands and many voices. What started as a paper puppet template slowly became a colourful record of everyone who joined in and left their mark. Our August Collaborative Puppet Project #puppettherapy #communityartproject #collaborativeartproject #creativethe

“This is Frank (he/him) the blue dinosaur and Cozy (she/they) the orange bat. They are unlikely friends. This was the first time I used soft clay and it felt weirdly soft but slimy.“ This participant gave me consent to share #softclay #creativeandexperientialtherapies #creativetherapy #artishealing #artheals

“I don’t always know what I’m looking at when I begin. A feeling. A memory. A sensation. A fragment of a story. Creative and experiential therapy helps me stay with the uncertainty long enough for something meaningful to emerge. Not all at once. Just enough for the next step.” This participant gave me consent to share #creativeandexperientialtherapies #creativetherapy #healingthroughart #arthealing #artheals

“I made a frog clay 🐸 with a lily pad 🪷 The frog likes sitting on the lily pad and looking at the flower” This participant gave me permission to share #frogart #softclayart #frogonalilypad #ilovesoftclay #creativetherapy

“This is King Duck (he/him) is the King of the Pond. He has a memory like a goldfish and floats in circles. He has too much bouncy to swim but he does dive for food.“ This participant gave me consent to share #creativetherapy #arttherapy #playtherapy #imaginativetherapy #narrativetherapy

“Created during a first in-person session after a journey from Alice Springs, this painting found a second life as a puppet. After seeing the transformation, a dream about making colourful iceberg puppet ls was shared. Some creative threads seem to weave themselves together in unexpected ways. Before long, this colourful companion will be making the journey home.” This participant gave me consent to share #puppettherapy #creativeandexperientialtherapies #creativetherapy #pupp

QUESTIONS I OFTEN ASK IN A FIRST SESSION: “What previous therapy experiences have you had, and what was helpful and/or unhelpful for you?” “What are your intentions, hopes, and/or needs for our therapeutic journey together?” “What are you hoping to get out of creative and experiential approaches to therapy?” “What is your relationship to creativity, and how does it show up in your life?” “What feels most important for me to understand about you and your reasons for coming her

“After taking about intrusive thoughts with a car lighter. I had a visualization of a car lighter on the tongue. I made a template of the mouth and cut it out in cardboard. I layered the cardboard and paper mached the lips for dimension after hot gluing toilet paper. I also layered cardboard for the car lighter. I used soft air clay to form the tongue.“ This participant gave me consent to share #creativeandexperientialtherapies #intrusiveart #intrusivethoughtsart #intrusiveth

“Amongst the chaos, where shapes collide and colours push against each other, there is always one small constant — my cat.” This participant gave me permission to share #amongstthechaos #mycat #creativetherapy #creativeandexperientialtherapies #arttherapy

“Haze (he/him) is a fallen angel who is stuck in a maze with his twin sister Iliana (she/they). He has a love interest who he currently hates with his entire being. I still don’t know how they will fall I in love…” This participant gave mr consent to share #creativestoryart #narrativeart #creativetherapy #healingthroughstorytelling #narrativetherapy

“This artwork is of a new day, a new life. It is the 3rd painting in the series of unknown numbers, which highlights the progression over a period of time. It represents a change in life experiences; experiencing tumultuous relationships, developing as an individual person outside of relationships and discovering yourself again. Sometimes you just have to wake up and smell the flowers.“ This participant gave me consent to share #creativetherapy #creativeandexperientialtherapi

“These little creations have been an exploration of emotions through my depression. Some emotions came out quickly like anger and guilt, and some took a little longer to explore such as the destigmatization of rest and gluttony. During previous therapy explorations I have always tried to cure my symptoms. They were unpleasant and ‘wrong’ and therefore had to go. This exploration through art has been teaching me of the value of sitting with emotions and symptoms, especially wh

“The depth is found through repeated action. I started with Shōga, then ink and then paint pens ending in collage, creating a depth that wasn’t evident in the first session.” This participant gave me permission to share #arttherapy #creativetherapy #artbasedcounselling #artpsychotherapy #creativeandexperientialtherapies

I’m loving playing with Stickikubes Neon Brights in sessions lately as a simple, low demand tool for grounding and focus. They can be stacked, sorted, built, or just fiddled with, and tend to invite calm, playful engagement without any pressure or structure. Found here: https://amzn.to/48qEaPr #stickikubes #playtherapy #creativetherapy #toolsintherapy #therapytoys

I love making kinetic sand! There’s something therapeutic about the process. Mixing, adjusting, noticing texture, and responding to what it needs. It invites experimentation without pressure to get it “right.” Recipe: • 2 cups sand • 1 cup cornstarch • 1 tbsp silicone oil • Food colouring • A touch of slime Mix dry ingredients first, then slowly add the wet until it’s soft and mouldable. Simple, hands-on, and regulating. There’s no perfect formula, just noticing what is neede

“Tree Ornament for the Disturbed: I turned an intrusive thought into a Christmas ornament.” This participant gave me permission to share #treeornament #intrusiveart #intrusivethought #christmasornament #creativetherapy

“I drew an ice cream sundae 🍨 I like the sprinkles and the cherry on top is so cute 🍒” This participant gave me permission to share #icecreamsundaeart #icecreamsundae #cuteicecream #creativetherapy #creativeandexperientialtherapies

“Something soft returns A black hole hovers. I see a butterfly— the darkness loosens, and something soft returns.” This participant gave me permission to share #creativeprocess #trusttheprocess #healingart #artheals #creativetherapy

“I drew Miffy. Miffy the bunny is a white rabbit. She is a fictional character and she is very cute.“ This participant gave me permission to share #miffy #miffythebunny #miffytherabbit #miffyart #creativetherapy