Drawing Within Art Therapy & Counselling Service Ballarat

In my work with children and young people I strive to give them a voice and uphold the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the child. Click here to view video of this Declaration.

Services for children 3 years and upwards.                  1-1 Face to Face 

"The primary focus is to provide empathy, attachment, attunement and positive embodiment related to interpersonal relationships." Cathy Malchiodi renowned Art therapist ,2017.

We can never underestimate the value of play for this age group. Play is the child's work. Playing and creating with toys, dolls, dolls house, dramatic and dress up play, games, sandplay and figurines, sensory/ messy play and art therapy, are all modalities to help little ones and primary school aged children, engage and connect with the creative process, feel safe and build trust with me as their therapist.

Zoom online sessions are only available for primary school aged children and young people. This is dependant on having a lap top, art materials( we can discuss this), a private space and a caregiver to support the IT when needed. For children aged 2-5 years of age, face to face is the preferred method of service delivery.

Services for Young people ages 11-17 years

Encouraging independence and building on the young person's talents and strengths, I will follow their lead re art materials and modalities of interest and those they are passionate about. This includes Arts therapy, Sandplay therapy, apps and digital creativity.

The following areas can be supported- mental health, anxiety, neurodiversity, grief and loss, transitions, emotional literacy, school refusal, trauma, emotional well-being, building resilience and practising mindfulness. If there are other specific areas not mentioned, please contact me to discuss.

Group Art Therapy for Kids and Young people

I am available to facilitate the following programs:

(a) Kreative Kidz
An Expressive Art Therapy program promoting emotional and mental well-being in primary school aged children. Key features are building safety and trust in relationships.
The program encourages children to:

• Have fun with new friends
• Build confidence and self-esteem
• Freely explore their creative potential without any rights or wrongs,
• Build strengths and acknowledge hidden gifts and talents
• Develop their emotional literacy skills by learning the names of emotions they are experiencing and using body maps to recognise how emotions and sensations show up in their bodies
• Express feelings in a safe space
• Learn mindfulness strategies fore self regulation

(b) Victorian Education Department- Schools Mental Health Menu. Funded and rolled out from 2022 onwards. 

Tier 2-Early Intervention Group Cohort specific support.  Tier 3-Targeted support- Blocks of one on one sessions for students.

I have significant experience helping schools design and implement Tier 2- group programs for their students or offering Tier 3, blocks of 1-1 Art therapy/ Sandplay sessions. Issues can include: grief and loss, anxiety, social, emotional and sensory play skills, self-regulation, trauma and attachment, year 6's transitioning to year 7, school refusal and nature based art therapy.

I listen and consult with principals and well-being staff to find the right mental health and well-being fit for your school. The content of your program will be driven by needs of your students and becomes the starting point for your goals and planning. As I use a person centred approach and follow the student's lead, I will often need to change direction, content and goals, to meet the evolving, emerging needs of your students.This will be done in consultation with the well-being team.

In 2017 Cathy Malchiodi  suggests "10 minutes, dozens of doses of therapeutic repetition are possible.The program will be quicker if parents, teachers and therapists work together to form a consistent therapeutic web to support positve change."

Click here to view the Menu and Art therapy possibilities.

(c) Group Art Therapy-Time for Young People

Young people can choose their own intention/ theme & then freely create art of their choice, using different art modalities- painting, drawing, clay, sewing, collage, sandtray or other media and then share in a group. The sharing is optional till they all feel safe and trust is developed. I encourage participation and witnessing each other’s art making and stories.

All the programs I facilitate, have a therapeutic expressive arts intention, where children and young people have the opportunity to express and make meaning of what's important to them in the moment.

No experience of Art is required.The groups are about the process of making Art and being creative and imaginative.We don't compare, interpret or judge each others work, but rather act curiously and offer encouragement and perserverance.

To maximise the benefits for all kids and young people, there is a minimum number of 6 per group for 1.5-2 hour blocks for at least 4-6 weeks. Fees, venue, dates and times can be negotiated with myself through funding bodies.

Give me a call if you would like me to facilitate a group for you.

Contact and More Information

Children naturally gravitate to play and creativity.

Young people and teens love the freedom to create meaningful art connected to their lives.

Choosing Creative Arts Therapy for your child or young person could be the best decision you make as a parent, in supporting their mental health and well being.
Contact me on 0409 954 703 or email drawingwithin@yahoo.com.au
I would love to hear from you.♥