Art therapy is a gentle yet powerful therapeutic mode that can benefit anyone willing to embrace the creative process. It can be an effective form of psychotherapy for those who find it challenging to verbalise their experiences, who do not enjoy talking, and/or for whom traditional talk therapies have not been helpful.

Sessions have the potential to support a broad range of experiences, including but not limited to:

• Stress, anxiety, hopelessness and depression

• Feeling irritable, reactive or short-tempered

• Trauma and dissociation

• Grief and loss

• Neurodiverse experiences including ADHD, ASD, dyslexia and sensory overwhelm

• Relationship challenges with partners, family members, friends or co-workers

• Sexuality and gender

• Identity and existential life questions – Who am I? What’s my purpose?

• Academic pressures

• Life transitions and changes

• Culture and sense of belonging challenges – e.g., due to migration, growing up in different countries, international schooling, or diverse family backgrounds

• Perfectionism, critical self-talk, confidence and self-worth struggles

• Chronic pain and life-threatening illnesses.

Not at all – no artistic skills, knowledge or prior experience are required to benefit from individual art therapy. We believe that healing comes from the therapeutic act of creating alongside a trained Arts Therapy practitioner, not from the outcome, aesthetics, or technical aspects of the final artwork itself.

There is also immense value in approaching sessions with a beginner’s mind, setting aside any preconceived notions of what art needs to be and how it should look like, so that the creative process can truly reflect your experience and the wisdom it holds.

We acknowledge and celebrate every individual’s unique way of processing and engaging with the world. The creative process of art making looks different for everyone, and there is no right or wrong way to express ourselves.

Sessions adapt the creative process to meet your needs and comfort level, and may encourage working with different materials and mediums to support you in accessing your authentically felt lived experience. This can include drawing, painting, photography, working with clay, creating a collage, engaging movement, responding to music, or working with a combination of creative modes that hold your curiosity.

In-person sessions:
Delivered at our art therapy studio at Habitat 1, Level 1, 177-179 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville (map). The space is accessible via two flights of stairs (14 steps, then 6 steps) with a rest landing in between. If stairs are a barrier, please let us know so we can explore alternative session locations that work for you.

Online sessions:
Delivered via secure telehealth, Australia-wide.

In-person sessions:

We have plenty of materials in the studio, so you don’t need to bring anything - unless there's something in particular you’d like to bring to support you in sessions (e.g., art materials, or something you’ve been working on that relates to what your exploring with us).

Online sessions:

To attend sessions online, you will need:

• A quiet, comfortable and private space away from distractions, where you can talk and create freely;

• A fully charged or plugged-in device with camera, microphone and speaker functionality (e.g., computer, tablet);

• A stable internet connection to access your secure telehealth video conferencing link;

• Basic art materials – we can work with what you have on hand, so feel free to get creative with what’s available to you. Paper, pens, pencils and pastels can be a great place to start. If needed, we can provide a suggested list of materials before your first session.

Please see below for an overview of our services and session fees. For adolescent clients, sessions can be supplemented with parent consultations to support therapy effectiveness.

Private/FAS:

• Initial Intake Assessment | 90 min | $270
70 minutes direct therapy/assessment + 20 minutes preparation, goal review, and planning.
No additional cost for comprehensive session documentation.

• Standard Therapy Session | 60 min | $180
50 minutes direct therapy + 10 minutes preparation and planning.
No additional cost for session documentation.

• Parent Consultation | 60 min | $150
45 minutes direct consult + 15 minutes preparation and planning.
No additional cost for session documentation.

NDIS:
The fees below align with the new reduced NDIS rate of $156.16 per hour. To continue offering this service sustainably, NDIS sessions will now have documentation billed as an additional non-face-to-face support.

• Initial Intake Assessment | 120 min | $312.32
70 minutes direct therapy/assessment + 20 minutes preparation, goal review, and planning.
Plus 30 billable minutes for comprehensive session documentation.

• Standard Therapy Session | 75 min | $195.20
50 minutes direct therapy + 10 minutes preparation and planning.
Plus 15 billable minutes for session documentation.

• Parent Consultation | 75 min | $195.20
45 minutes direct consult + 15 minutes preparation and planning.
Plus 15 billable minutes for session documentation.