Frequently Asked Questions

No. This is your work. Only you know what you have created means. I will guide you in your processing by asking you questions that will help you uncover what your inner being is saying to you.

The simple answer is ‘No’. You will be invited to create art and always have the option to choose whether you do it or not. Remember though that I will have carefully considered the choice of the creative intervention I’m inviting you to do based on your goals and needs.

There are many ways to engage creatively in a session. Here are a few examples:

• You bring something to the session that you have already created, or it could be an item of significance to you, with a view to processing its meaning. Some examples could be a journal page, a drawing, a piece of writing, or a photograph.
• You might create something just before our session that reflects how you’re currently feeling and we use that as the starting point of our session.
• I send you a link to some photos before the session and ask you to select one image that we will discuss in the session.
• You spontaneously create during a session while I observe you.

There are many possibilities. Don’t worry about this. Trust the process.

Whatever you create belongs to you and you decide what happens to it next. Even when I work in-person you will need to take your creation away with you because I have nowhere to safely store it. I have found that many people choose to take a photograph of their work and then they destroy or throw away the original if they don’t want to keep it.

I highly recommend taking a photo of your work for your own records. You could start a specific album on your phone to store your photos – this is a good way to keep your work safe from others. In other situations you may want to share your work and this can even help with your own processing.

No matter the situation, we will discuss this together so you can decide what is best for you.

It really depends on you. I see some clients once a week, others every two weeks or even once a month. Tune into what your needs are and we can find a frequency that feels best for you.

No. I only work with adults. The oldest person I’ve worked with so far was in their 90s.

Anything you have on hand! It’s not necessary for you to go out and spend money on art supplies unless you want to! My hope is to make these sessions accessible to everyone, so if you have some paper and some pens then we’re good to go! If you want to invest in some art materials, I can give you a list of recommended supplies.

There are the technical aspects of connecting to each other online and then there is the process of how we work together in the session. You will be given information about all of this when you decide to work with me.

You must have a device connected to the internet to attend any online sessions. I’ll send you information about how to connect before we meet. It is also important you have a private space for the session and some art materials on hand.

Sometimes connectivity issues can arise. If this happens, we’ll work out together the best solution to address this problem.

In an online session, you can create using physical materials and share it with me by holding it up to the screen, or you might choose to use digital art tools to work with and share your creations electronically. It is common for people to photograph their work and send this to me during the session so I can see the details the person wants me to see. I will ask you to photograph your work after every session and send this to me for my records. I will discuss all of this with you in our first session.

It is worth noting that working online is different to the experience of an in-person therapy session. I have found that people find online sessions work well for them. However, this way of working does not suit everyone. It is important we discuss this before any decision is made for us to work together. Please book a free 30 minute discovery call.

Arts therapy can help people to resolve conflicts, develop interpersonal skills, manage behaviour, reduce stress, increase self-esteem, and achieve insight.

Arts therapy can help you to:

• express feelings that may be difficult to verbalise
• explore your imagination and creativity
• develop healthy coping skills and focus
• improve self-esteem and confidence
• identify and clarify issues and concerns
• increase communication skills
• share in a safe nurturing environment
• improve motor skills and physical co-ordination
• identify blocks to emotional expression and personal growth.

Individual therapy sessions are 60 minutes long. Group sessions are usually longer. Creative WellBeing Sessions also vary according to the needs identified in the workplace.

I primarily work online. However, please contact me to talk about working in person. I may be able to do this depending on the situation.

Evidence-based and practice-based research is well established in the use of creative modalities therapeutically.

A recent report from The World Health Organisation (Health Evidence Network synthesis report 67, 2019) investigated arts based therapies from over 3000 studies and found “a major role for the arts in the prevention of ill health, promotion of health, and management and treatment of illness across the lifespan”.

The WHO report found:

• The overall evidence base shows a robust impact of the arts on both mental and physical health
• It is useful in the expression and exploration of difficult or complex problems
• It is cost effective, engages minority or marginalised groups, complements other therapies or medical interventions

Yes. To be a registered creative arts therapist in New Zealand you have to be a professional member of ANZACATA (Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association). Many creative therapists in New Zealand hold other qualifications which support and enhance their arts therapy qualification.

To be a registered creative arts therapist in New Zealand you must have completed a Master of Arts in Arts Therapy (Clinical) or an equivalent qualification in addition to at least 750 hours of supervised clinical practice. All ANZACATA members adhere to their ethical guidelines and professional practice guidelines including regular supervision and ongoing professional development.