Golden Threads Art Therapy

Expressive arts therapy is a way to explore and make meaning of your life.

Using a mix of imagery, colour, texture, sound, words, sensations and other forms, it can help you to notice and express thoughts and feelings that are difficult to communicate. Discussion about your work and the art making process can help you gain insight and make sense of your experiences.

Experience or skill in art is not required in order to successfully engage in art therapy. It is not about making “good art”.

The terms expressive arts therapy and creative therapy are used to describe our inclusion of all of the arts in what we call art therapy (including any new creative methods we discover on the day) and the value of expressing what we hold inside our bodies. We can offer opportunities to work across a range of forms, including the visual arts (e.g. painting, collage, pencils, pastels, markers, sculpture) poetry, narrative, clay, sand play, installations, photography, digital drawing, meditation, objects, textiles, movement, music, dance and drama. Also known as creative arts therapists, our training is multi-modal and is sometimes seen as distinct from an "Art Therapist" trained only in visual art. 

Remember that you do not need to be an experienced art maker and you do not need to participate in any activities if you do not feel comfortable. We will be guided by you. 

Creativity in its essence is change. We change the blank page into something when we make our mark, the paint on the pallet to something fluid and moving when we dip in our brush, the still unconscious body into movement and awareness when we dance, the frantic mind into flow and meditation through engagement, the silence or noise into beauty when we sing a song that resonates. We focus. We flow. We are lost in a newfound place and there we find ourselves. We are changing from one state of consciousness into another. Transformation happens.

Individual Therapy

One on one art therapy or creative counselling  session (individual art therapy in person 1hour plus planning and notes)- $156.16 per hour

One on one art online art therapy session (individual art therapy via a secure and private zoom connection 1hour plus planning and notes)- $156.16 per hour

Individual art therapy creative counselling combines traditional counselling techniques with a range of creative approaches. Your therapist may invite you to represent or explore your story creatively at key points in the session (e.g. through a painting, movement, an object, or poem). This may feel daunting at first but can be very powerful as a process and you will not have to do anything you do not want to do. No skill or experience in art making is necessary.

A standard art therapy/creative counselling appointment is 60 -minutes, but longer sessions can be negotiated as needed. Sessions are available to adults, children, and young people.

NDIS Creative Counselling Groups

A small supportive weekly group to help you work towards your well being and recovery goals  with gentle and fun creative processes to foster self expression, confidence, emotional regulation and social connection. 

Thursdays 10-12 Art and Musical Creative Expression (Currently full-join the wait list)

Thursdays 1-3  Creative Counselling Group- Art Therapy (Expressions of Interest for a new group. Please register your interest for more details)

Groups run for roughly 10 weeks 

Group Sessions costs TBA- 

We can run groups as Open Studio sessions, where the artmaking is the focus of the session, or more traditional therapy groups, where the art is used to explore emerging issues and themes. Groups can be one-off, ongoing or for an agreed period of time.

Contact us to organise an art therapy for your organisation or check our news or Facebooks site for upcoming public groups.

NDIS-If you have funding in your plan for improved daily living, you may choose to use that funding or part of that funding for art therapy.  

Under the NDIS, art therapy is provided as an allied health service.

While Golden Threads is not a registered NDIS Provider, as a fully insured member of the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA) we are able to see NDIS clients who are self-managed or work with you as a contractor through your plan provider as a certified practicing counsellor through PACFA registration. We are committed to upholding quality standards and being accountable to NDIS participants and those within the community in our work with you.