A PATH TO FOLLOW
Art Therapy
prevention
Early intervention
personalised support
Art Therapy in Melbourne
Art Therapy is a great way to express feelings and calm the nervous system. It offers a safe space to explore challenges in a supportive environment, with a qualified and experienced therapist.
Our fabulous Art Therapist Juliette creates a fun, engaging and safe atmosphere for young people from 12 years of age to get creative. Juliette provides one-to-one therapy, group and a space for parents of young people to attend sessions with their children. Juliette states this is a meaningful way for parents and their children to learn new perspectives and solutions through the sharing of their art work.
Regardless of the desired outcomes, Art Therapy is a safe therapy. Its gentle approach allows exploration of deeply personal issues without having to retell one’s story and igniting trauma. It can help place the onus of choice and control back into the hands of the participant to navigate their own unique journey of discovery and recovery.
How art therapy can help you
- VERBALISING DIFFICULT EMOTIONS
- DEVELOPING HEALTHY COPING SKILLS
- IMPROVING SELF ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE
- IDENTIFYING BLOCKS TO EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION
Art Therapy Services
Individual Art Therapy
Our individual art therapy service offers a personalised and confidential space for individuals to explore their emotions, enhance self-awareness, and promote healing through artistic expression.
Group Art Therapy (children/teens)
Our sessions offer a supportive space for children and teenagers to express themselves creatively, build a strong support network, and develop healthy coping mechanisms through art therapy.
Corporate Events (staff wellbeing)
Through our art therapy corporate events, we facilitate team-building exercises that foster collaboration and improved communication, promoting staff wellbeing and a positive work environment.
Aged Care and Disability Settings
Our art therapy sessions in aged care and disability settings provide a therapeutic and inclusive space for individuals to engage in creative expression and improve overall well-being.
Meet our Art Therapist
Juliette
ART THERAPIST, SOCIAL WORKER AND COUNSELLOR
Juliette has over 20 years of combined experience working as an art therapist, social worker, counsellor and her own lived experience. She has worked with a range of community organisations, a diversity of ages, cultural backgrounds and has much experience supporting people with a number of life’s challenges including mental health, drug and alcohol misuse, family violence, childhood trauma and those experiencing age-related challenges.
Juliette chose to work with A Path To Follow, drawn to our peer model that values a holistic approach, using people’s strengths within their own lived experiences. Practising this is important to Juliette as it engenders a safe space for people to connect with, and leaves behind that traditional deficit approach where it is assumed people need to be ‘fixed’.
Delivering individual and group Art Therapy sessions over the past 10 years, Juliette has observed first-hand the relief experienced by participants making art, and the resulting new/renewed insights into their challenges.
Qualifications
- Diploma of Life Coaching
- Masters of Art Therapy (Latrobe Uni)
- Diploma of Visual Arts
- Bachelor of Social Work (Melbourne Uni)
- Diploma of Vocational Education Training Practive (V.E.T)
- Grad. Dip of Education (Melbourne Uni)
- Diploma of Communit Services in Alcohol and other Drugs and Mental Health
- Bachelor of Arts Majors in Anthropology/Sociology (Monash Uni)
- Clinical Supervision Course (Bouverie Latrobe Uni)
Art Therapy Journey
Referral In
Referrals to A Path to Follow's Art Therapy Program can come from multiple sources, including the individual themselves, parents/caregivers, or other service providers.
Initial Call
After receiving a referral, the organisation's caring and experienced art therapists schedule an initial call to determine the appropriateness of art therapy for the individual's specific situation. During this call, they aim to understand the individual's needs, goals, and challenges. This conversation helps them assess how art therapy can best support the individual on their path to healing.
Assignment to Group
Once the suitability of art therapy is determined, individuals are assigned to supportive and inclusive groups.
A Path to Follow understands the power of shared experiences and believes in the strength of peer support. Group dynamics play a crucial role in art therapy, providing a space where individuals facing similar struggles can connect, share experiences, and learn from one another. The organisation carefully considers various factors to ensure that individuals are placed in groups that align with their specific needs and goals.
Sessions Begin
Upon being assigned to a group, individuals begin a series of art therapy sessions guided by trained art therapists. These sessions involve engaging in art-based activities and techniques tailored to stimulate creative expression, promote self-reflection, and nurture personal growth.
A Path to Follow's therapists create a warm and non-judgemental environment, encouraging individuals to explore their thoughts and emotions through the power of art.
Art Therapy Program Testimonials
“To be valued is important to all of us in the group…”
After a long battle with mental health issues and substance abuse, I now have more routine and enjoyment in my life. Art therapy has given me a platform to build on, in terms of confidence and artistic skill. It has helped my state of mind and the support I receive has provided me with a better chance to reduce the use of drugs, and promote a more positive outlook on the future.
When I began art therapy with Juliette I was still in a relationship where I was experiencing domestic violence. Art therapy gave me the emotional tools to leave a violent relationship, as well as to seek intervention orders to stand up against domestic violence, and gave me the strength to find my own housing.
Art therapy has helped me to deal with issues that I previously haven’t been able to work through over the last 10 years, of seeing psychologists and psychiatrists.
The first session of art therapy, had more impact than years of continued traditional talk therapy. I addressed these issues and found closure with childhood trauma.
Art therapy is an amazing form of art that allows you to express yourself to your therapist, real life issues in an environment, that allows you to express deeply felt issues, in a non-threatening way. The realisations I made during these sessions are un-parallel to none experienced in other types of therapy. These realisations made in art therapy, carry on into my everyday life, much so for the better
Art Therapy Case Study
What attracted you to our service?
My son loves art and I thought with the combination of therapy it would get him engaging, talking and expressing himself.
What did service look like for your child?
He was looking forward to experimenting with different art in an autonomous way, with no rules.
Why would you recommend this service to someone who is unsure if it is right for them?
Because it is a gentle, non-evasive way of getting them to connect and be creative
What are three benefits you’ve/your child has experienced as a result of our service?
- More positive
- More intuitive
- Better self esteem
What surprised you the most or made you the happiest about joining service?
That my child is now very open and keen to make insights
What made you choose us over other similar services?
It happened at the right time in the right place and was recommended by the school
What outcomes or results were you looking for?
Pierce overcoming social anxiety
Were there any areas we went above and beyond expectations? If so, can you tell us about that?
Juliette was very insightful and thought outside the box
Was there anything we could have done differently?
No
What’s one piece of success that wouldn’t have been possible without our service?
My child was encouraged about his poem on reconciliation by Juliette and her association with aboriginal people, he was feeling confident and read his poem out at the ceremony with over 100 people
How would you rate our service in terms of value for money?
Very good as it was one-on-one