Creative Arts Therapy

Creative Spirit
Arts Therapy

Creative Spirit
Arts Therapy

What is Arts Therapy?

Creative Arts therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses creative modalities within a therapeutic relationship to improve physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. (ANZACATA)

It can be especially helpful for those who find it difficult to put into words what is going on for them.

Welcome to the Art Therapy space in Blackburn North!!!

This space is on the lands of the Wurundjeri people and I wish to acknowledge the Traditional Owners, and pay respect to their Elders, past and present.

Come and check out the space by calling to make an individual appointment or to join a group.”

What happens in a session?

The session includes exploring an experience that holds some significance, by making a representation of it using art materials. With the qualified arts practitioner, the art is then reflected on together, to see what might come up and what it may mean.

The practitioner does not try to fix your problems or impart theory but rather listens, and asks questions to better understand you and your experience. The participant and practitioner work together to find clarity and insight.

All materials are provided and no artistic skill is needed.

Lauren Foster in a creative arts therapy session

NOW OFFERING

Clinical Supervision for psychotherapists, counsellors, art therapists

CREATE AND CONNECT

Group for Mental Health

A WEEKLY ART THERAPY GROUP
Wednesdays, 1.30pm – 3pm

“Art making provides a way to express emotions, represent  experiences and can uncover patterns of behaviour that might be keeping you stuck. The insight discovered can awaken the ability to make change, giving you the power to move  forward in your life.
The qualified therapist will companion you along the way, holding a safe space for you to inquire and to discover your potential.”

Please contact Lauren to book your place on 0415 809 892, email creativespiritartstherapy@gmail.com or use the contact form below.

All art materials provided. No artistic skill required.

ALL NDIS participants welcome.
Create Spirit Arts Therapy is a registered NDIS provider.

WOMEN’S GROUP

A WEEKLY WOMEN’S THERAPY GROUP
Mondays, 10.30am – 12.00pm in Blackburn North.

Through your creativity and the use of different art materials and processes each week, you can express your experiences and emotions and uncover patterns that may be keeping you stuck.

 Find insight and new ways to move forward in your life.

If you would like to participate in this group, please call: Lauren on 0415 809 892 or email creativespiritartstherapy@gmail.com to book your place.

All art materials provided. No artistic skill required.

INDIVIDUAL ART THERAPY

Individual sessions would be tailored to meet your needs. 

The session would involve art making, where the therapist would companion you through this process, asking questions about the art to find out how it relates to your life and your patterns of behaviour that may be keeping you stuck. 

Bringing awareness to what the underlying problems are and what action you might take to start to shift old beliefs, patterns and behaviours, making space for new possibility to emerge.

If you are ready to work to change your life this might be the session for you.

 

Benefits

 

Creative arts therapy can bring about a sense of hope, resilience and achievement. It can increase problem solving, decision making, communication and coping skills. It can teach you about presence, living here and now.  It will bring awareness understanding of patterns of behaviour that may have come from past experiences and conditioning and you can learn to break free from the ones that no longer serve you. It can promote self acceptance, self awareness, self esteem, and confidence.  It may bring a new perspective to your life, bringing understanding to what is important and what needs to be let go.

Hi all, I’m Lauren

Qualified Therapeutic Arts practitioner (AThr) (MA, Miecat)

When I attended an art therapy group, I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it, as at that time, I had not done any art making since I was a kid, but what I came to realise was that it was not about creating art for others to hang on their wall, but rather was an outlet for me to express myself. I had a lot of emotions and thoughts that I didn’t know what to do with, and suddenly I could put them into something that seemed positive. My art was a safe place that could hold all of my experiences and emotions.

Over the years my art, and the process of art making, has been able to show me my patterns of behaviour that I had created through conditioning and through the need for safety.  To understand and know myself better has enabled me to change the beliefs that had kept me small, and kept me acting out in ways that were no longer serving me.  The learning of these patterns allowed me to change them, letting go of belief systems that I no longer needed.

I wanted to bring this gift to others, so studied, completing a Diploma in Transpersonal Art therapy and then a Masters Degree at Miecat in Therapeutic Arts Practice. (AThr).

I am an authentic, transparent, and compassionate person, who meets people wherever they are at, without judgement. I work relationally, and specialise working with those who suffer with traumatic grief, and also those with challenges with their mental health.  I work with a trauma informed lens.

In January 2023 I started writing “Contemplative Conversations”, a blog. You can read it by clicking here.

"After my son died and I was completely emotionally crushed I was referred to TCF through a friend. Thank you for all your support and help for bereaved parents get through such a tragic time. I made use of all available TCF resources - support groups, the library, discussion groups and events. From all of this I found Lauren’s Art Therapy to be the most valuable for me. The sessions were structured in a comforting small group which met in a very supportive and intimate atmosphere with a table between us and no pressure, but an open opportunity to share as much of our deepest unspoken feelings as we cared to. Every week we would start with a “check in” of where we were at, how we felt, a short guided grounding exercise followed by an expressive art therapy session. There were no expectations, no art ability required and it wasn’t about producing an end result, but a means for people to express how they felt. Through art we were able to access deeper parts of our emotions and grief that often is very difficult to express or share with words alone. The process made us aware of different things and gave us much food for thought and reflection. We used different materials each week, that often elicited different feelings which surfaced and were shared and discussed, with all of us being able to relate to what came up for each other. We cried, we laughed, we shared, supported and understood and always left more uplifted than when we came. Accessing hidden unexpressed emotions in this way and sharing them was very therapeutic, as well as growthful and enlightening. I’m sure it would be beneficial for anyone, most of all bereaved parents."

Grazyna

"Art therapy with Lauren gave me a whole new means of understanding and expressing what I was feeling through a variety of very absorbing art activities. Lauren's skills and training and personal background combined with her warmth and intuition meant i was helped to make my own deeper discoveries about my life. I would very happily recommend her classes and sessions to anyone intent on making sense of their own experiences.. and it often is fun too!"

Dr. Patricia Tandy

"“Crazy Man” So strong, deals with the pain, the little monsters eat away and hide it. But to get help Strength is sharing the pain. As most you know I have brain injury gives me few problems throughout my daily life. My biggest problem is my chronic pain, I don’t talk about this much but I’ve started art therapy and it’s making talk about it more and it’s helping manage it a lot better. Chronic pain bloody sucks it effects everything you could think of. If there is anyone out there dealing with their demons, art therapy is one way sort them out. I’m finding it very helpful. They're pretty much a psychologist but you get to scribble your mind."

Ryan

Contact Lauren

 

If you would like to know more, would like to make an appointment in Melbourne, or refer a client, please make contact on the details below.

Plan and Self Managed NDIS participants welcome.

0415 809 892

Creative Spirits Arts Therapy

67B Katrina St

Blackburn North 3130

NDIS Registered & ANZACATA