About Marica

My Creative Arts Therapy journey began when someone gifted me a journal shortly after my 10 year old son was diagnosed with leukaemia.

That was 33 years ago.

I began writing every day, pouring my thoughts and emotions onto the page without judgment. I filled the journal that was gifted to me — and many others after it. Eventually, words alone were not enough, so I explored visual journaling, experimenting with marks, images, and collage. This creative practice became a vital part of my self-care that continues to this day.

I later began integrating photography into my self-exploration. Capturing moments with my camera became another way to express what I was feeling and reflect on my inner world. Photography offered a unique lens through which I could observe daily life in ways that might otherwise go unnoticed. Today it is an essential part of my wellbeing practice, alongside numerous other creative modalities, helping me stay deeply connected with myself. This personal experience now informs how I integrate photography and creative reflection into my work with others.

Growing up in a migrant family, with Croatian as my first language, I learned early to communicate in different ways to connect with others. This experience shaped my deep understanding of individuality and cultural perspectives, which informs the way I work with people. Facilitating the process of uncovering and expressing your inner wisdom is a privilege and brings me great joy.

I am not an empty vessel. I have lived, experienced, and relied on creativity to process, heal, and transform myself. My journey of self-discovery continues. I believe it always will, until my last breath.

My experiences allow me to meet people with empathy, curiosity, and deep respect for their unique journey. If you are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, searching for meaning, or simply curious about your inner world, this work may offer a helpful way to connect with yourself and your creativity.

My qualifications include:

Master of Arts in Arts Therapy (Clinical), First Class Honours
Master of Communications, Distinction
Bachelor of Science
Diploma of Teaching

I am a professional member of ANZACATA (Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association).

What is Creative Arts Therapy

Creative Arts Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses the arts and the creative process. You are not alone – you will be supported by a qualified arts therapist who is attentive, non-judgmental, and focused on your unique needs.

Whatever you create can safely hold your experiences, no matter how big or small these may be, and gives you permission to be curious, playful, experimental, and vulnerable. Through art-making, such as photography, visual arts, writing, and reflective exercises, you can explore unconscious material that is often difficult to put into words. This can provide you with new perspectives and insights that connect to your life.

My approach is holistic, integrating your psychological, emotional, relational, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Each session is unique, just like you.

The best way to understand Creative Arts Therapy is to experience it. You will discover it is not a quick fix. Like everything, it takes time, curiosity, and commitment.

Get in touch for a free 30 minute discovery call to see if this is a good fit for you.

Creativity and Reflective Practice

Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human.

I hear this all the time, “I’m not creative” or “I can’t draw”. It’s surprising how many adults believe this to be true.

I’ve worked with people of all ages – from their 20s through to their 90s. We can all create. Age is never a barrier. It is often the messages we send ourselves that become the limiting factor.

Creativity helps us to make meaning from our experiences, communicate what matters to us, and support our wellbeing. When we engage creatively, we are also engaging in a form of reflective practice — exploring our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions through the act of making.

As Pennie Brownlee (2016) points out in Magic Places, our creativity depends on the “Creation Story” we carry – “I can” or “I can’t”. We all begin life with the “I can” story and as we get older this changes primarily because of the stories we are told by other people. Brownlee reminds us that it is never too late to revisit, revise, even re-write your “I can’t” story. This is essential for growth and wellbeing.

Creativity comes from within; it is not something that can be imposed on us from the outside. Through creative practice, including photography, visual arts, writing, and reflective exercises, we reconnect with our natural “I can” and open doors to new insights, self-connection, and personal transformation.