Reflective practices enhance intuition and trust in yourself;
…elements I really needed through the early years of developing my practice as a therapist.
My professional practice started through a creative arts therapy Masters after studying a psychology under-graduate degree. I wanted to integrate creativity with counselling and recovery. It seemed only natural, and broke down so many communication barriers I had noticed in my previous 10 years work with children as a music teacher. I recognized that creative initiative was where learning started, and so for adults, creativity would be how clients could restore and come home to themselves.
Applying a narrative therapy framework was the next step for me while I worked with clients with long-term depression and mental health issues. I sought support for this learning through PhD studies at RMIT University. This process really deepened my understandings of the common principles of both narrative and creative arts therapies; to promote agency and growth for people, in ways that are authentic expressions of self.
I have found reflective practice is a way for me to consolidate my personal learning, and to ground it with theory and context. This was how I learnt creative arts therapy; experiencing the process, reflecting and learning about the mechanisms of it, in order to facilitate something similar for a client. We are all unique, so this is always different. I am passionate about assisting clients to find their our own creative initiatives, and supporting the flow of this development.
It is when we are living our ideas that we start to feel fulfillment in life, both personally and professionally.
Reflective practices are equally supportive of self-care and professional practice. It is important as therapists, that we are taking care of ourselves in the same ways we provide for others, for our work to be sustainable. This is why I offer both self-care consultations, for anyone who needs this, and professional supervision. I choose to position myself as your guide and support for reflective practice, to enable your complete authorship and ownership of your processes.