Expressive & Sensorimotor Art Therapist
Expressive arts is unique as it is a visual process; it provides clients with opportunities to process sensory needs, develop communication, reduce anxiety and increase regulation. Non-verbal somatic sensory processes are used to approach healing and support reduction of anxiety and distress through rhythmic movements, patterning, play, image making and sensory integration. Expressive arts is a bottom up approach which re-establishes safety, it is a different type of therapy to top down which is more well-known ie. talk therapies CBT ACT with a counsellor or psychologist.
As humans we cannot talk ourselves into being calm, the body has to be part of the process otherwise the body holds the stress and the narrative may be spoken but the senses have not been able to process the impacts of traumas which impacts mental health, ability to function in everyday settings, emotional regulation and capacity.
Sensorimotor and expressive arts are visual and sensory processes which give clients the opportunity to communicate, process trauma and loss, build on developmental delays and support regulation through a visual process, supporting physical and mental health barriers that impact life.
Beckie Parkinson - Art Therapist
MA Therapeutic Arts Practice, BA Visual Arts, Grad Dip Early Childhood Education.
About me…
I have my Masters in Therapeutic Arts Practice and I am a registered Art Therapist with ANZACATA (the peak professional Association for Creative Arts in Australia, New Zealand and Asia) which includes being insured for Public and Product Liability and Professional Indemnity. As an Early Childhood teacher, I also have a Working with Children’s Check and my Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration.
I have extensive experience working with trauma in young children aged 3-12 years of age, as well as experience working teens and young adults, to support them in varying areas of their lives including anxiety, trauma and loss, stress and self-esteem issues.
My experience includes working within group and individual settings, in early childhood, school environments and private practice, to support children and adults in a variety of emotional and behavioural areas including anxiety, trauma, ADHD, ASD as well as children with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Within my practice I use art materials and creative processes to support clients to explore their emotions, reduce anxiety, support regulation and increase self-esteem. My work as a Expressive and Sensori Motor Arts Therapist incorporates using creative arts modalities including paints, sand trays and drawing practices with clayfield and sensorimotor therapies to support clients to engage their body and minds to move towards healing and support of their challenges.