“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
~Pablo Picasso
Art Therapy is a modality which uses different art materials in order to express emotions, externalize inner images, integrate and make sense of experiences and to find a creative way of dealing with difficult aspects of one’s life (trauma, loss, inner conflicts, fears etc.).
In my sessions the client uses painting, drawing, collage and printing as means for personal exploration. Additionally I offer the use of clay for sculptural expression. Through this material, the connection to nature and the elements is established and a deep encounter with one’s own physicality is made possible.
On request I extend the exploration through movement, sound and poetry. During a session there can be a smooth transition from one means of expression to another. A resonance wave may arise in which an image becomes a dance, a dance a poem and a poem a sound. We have many different ways of experiencing ourselves; where one medium reaches its limits, another can open new possibilities. It’s really not about whether you think you can sing, dance or paint. Creative Arts Therapy is not about learning a technique, it is about being creative, finding resources for your well-being and getting to know yourself.
My Approach
I understand myself as a facilitator and companion in an exploration which is deeply intimate and subjective. I endeavor to create a helpful framework for the client to dive into their creative flow. I like to work interactively and encourage people to express themselves authentically. The meaning of what occurs is defined by the client, and although I can share my impressions, I refrain from interpretation or analysis.
Enjoyment of the process is vital for a fulfilling session. At any stage I am encouraging focus on individual strengths and abilities, rather than on issues and limitations. However, one also encounters one’s “shadow parts”, fears and resistances. This can be very upsetting and revealing. My part is to hold the space in compassion and to suggest ways out of the crisis. In this regard, artistic creation can be used as a means to deal with one’s own personality. Life issues are embraced, reflected on, processed and transformed. This exploration can be profoundly beneficial and healing.
I also enjoy working with people who simply want to take time for themselves and their own creative process, and who want to be accompanied in a clear, stimulating and loving way. Creating art for the sake of art is reason enough. I can teach techniques if desired, however my approach is generally less educational, with the focus on promoting inventiveness. In this way my clients find the freedom of their unique creative expression and are able to immerse themselves in a state of flow – absorbed by the undertaken activity.
” I offer and contain in one gesture, like an open bowl.”
~Rupert Spira
My Background
I knew very early on that I wanted to live out my love for art in equal measure with my interest in people. I looked for a profession that combined fine arts with psychology and found Art Therapy. I undertook my degree in Art Therapy (240 credit points) at the University of Applied Sciences in Ottersberg (Germany), graduating with distinction at the end of 2010.
During my studies I completed various internships, took part in an art therapy experiential groups and did two years of my own individual psychotherapy. I gained experience with children and adults in creative workshops, with men in addiction rehabilitation, with young people with eating disorders and with women in self-exploration groups. From April 2012 to June 2013, I worked as an art therapist in the mental-health clinic in Bad Arolsen (GE), with groups and individuals. There I gathered experiences with different types of affective disorders, eating disorders and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). In 2019 I moved to Dunedin, New Zealand.
I am a registered Creative Arts Therapist (AThR, ANZACATA) and engage in regular supervision and continuous professional development. Between 2019-21, I completed a training in Dance Movement Therapy (Advanced Clinical Practicum, 415 hours) and am specialized in this modality in addition to Art Therapy. Furthermore, in 2022 I completed a trainer in “Mindful and Somatic Approaches to Trauma-therapy” (Certificate, 70 hours) and am weaving the learned insights and tools into my therapeutic work.
While living in Dunedin I worked at OCASA, a free service for survivors of sexual abuse, offering individual therapy as well as group art therapy to adults. I also provided arts and play therapy to children through Tu Maia Stand for Children Services.
Today, I am registered as an ACC Sensitive Claims Counsellor and work in private practice in Wanaka. Complementing this, I run a small business as a potter, creating functional ware and decor; and offer workshops in a mindful-movement practice called Authentic Movement. An eclectic work life, tailored to my interests and capacity, that makes me fulfilled and grateful.
If you are interested in working with me or would like to inquire about any of my services, please don’t hesitate to contact me via the contact form.
Art as Resource 