What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy can be understood in a number of ways; First, ‘art as therapy’, where making art in itself has therapeutic benefits. And second, ‘art in therapy’, where art is incorporated into a psychotherapeutic session. Art therapy, or arts inquiry, can be engaged in a variety of contexts - education, therapy, community arts and research.
Cocoon Creative Arts Therapies provides safe spaces for inquiry. Your inquiry may be entirely your own, or it may be shared with others in a group or community. In art therapy, we bring our questions into the present moment and engage with arts modalities to explore them with curiosity and awareness.
Cocoon Creative Arts Therapies draws upon a person-centred and phenomenological approach, where your therapist is a companion to your process, providing an accepting and compassionate presence as you navigate your path. Your companion may make reflections and offer invitations, but it is up to you to determine the path of exploration you follow.
Cocoon Creative Arts Therapies acknowledges that we can experience and come to know ourselves in a variety of ways. We can engage our usual thinking processes, but may also find insight through meditation and mindfulness practices, noticing body sensations, or paying attention to our relationship with arts materials or process. Our artistic representations may also offer a door to new knowing, helping us to inquire, reflect and find meaning.
Cocoon Creative Arts Therapies provides safe spaces for inquiry. Your inquiry may be entirely your own, or it may be shared with others in a group or community. In art therapy, we bring our questions into the present moment and engage with arts modalities to explore them with curiosity and awareness.
Cocoon Creative Arts Therapies draws upon a person-centred and phenomenological approach, where your therapist is a companion to your process, providing an accepting and compassionate presence as you navigate your path. Your companion may make reflections and offer invitations, but it is up to you to determine the path of exploration you follow.
Cocoon Creative Arts Therapies acknowledges that we can experience and come to know ourselves in a variety of ways. We can engage our usual thinking processes, but may also find insight through meditation and mindfulness practices, noticing body sensations, or paying attention to our relationship with arts materials or process. Our artistic representations may also offer a door to new knowing, helping us to inquire, reflect and find meaning.
- You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from art therapy
- Your therapist/companion will not ‘interpret’ your art, but will instead ask open questions to assist you in finding your own meaning
- There is no right or wrong way to make art, and no right or wrong way to respond to it
- Art therapy may engage a range of modalities including visual art, clay work, sculpture, collage, dreamwork, installation, sound (particularly voice work), and movement
- Materials may include pencils, soft pastels, oil pastels, clay, collage, paint, textiles, or natural materials
About Michelle Morgan
Michelle Morgan (AThR)
Michelle has been walking the path of healing and creativity for 17 years. During her first immersion in 'The Artist's Way' (Julia Cameron), she received clear guidance to begin studies in Massage Therapy. This led to Shiatsu, Reiki and Pranic Healing practices and a successful healing-focused business for a number of years.
She then moved into work with the frail aged as an activities coordinator for Austin Health. Further studies in Pastoral (Spiritual) Care and Health Sciences (Public Health) deepened her understanding of the social impacts on health, and the person-centred approach to healing.
After working in health-related research for a number of years, she felt called to a more creative application of her skills, and so launched a business offering community singing facilitation. Michelle has journeyed in women's circle for 15 years, has undertaken individual therapy and also participated in many personal development workshops. She currently works part-time with Meaningful Ageing Australia, writing resources to support staff in aged care to provide spiritual care to older people.
She is passionate about gentle and supportive spaces that allow people to reflect and find insight in their own timing, without external pressure. She recently authored and published 'A Guide to Community Singing Leadership', with Community Music Victoria. During her final year placement at Swell Centre for Spirituality and Wellbeing, she facilitated an eco-print course with members of the Habitat Artist's Studio, engaged members of the community in a collaborative artwork as part of conference, and curated a number of exhibitions.
Michelle has been walking the path of healing and creativity for 17 years. During her first immersion in 'The Artist's Way' (Julia Cameron), she received clear guidance to begin studies in Massage Therapy. This led to Shiatsu, Reiki and Pranic Healing practices and a successful healing-focused business for a number of years.
She then moved into work with the frail aged as an activities coordinator for Austin Health. Further studies in Pastoral (Spiritual) Care and Health Sciences (Public Health) deepened her understanding of the social impacts on health, and the person-centred approach to healing.
After working in health-related research for a number of years, she felt called to a more creative application of her skills, and so launched a business offering community singing facilitation. Michelle has journeyed in women's circle for 15 years, has undertaken individual therapy and also participated in many personal development workshops. She currently works part-time with Meaningful Ageing Australia, writing resources to support staff in aged care to provide spiritual care to older people.
She is passionate about gentle and supportive spaces that allow people to reflect and find insight in their own timing, without external pressure. She recently authored and published 'A Guide to Community Singing Leadership', with Community Music Victoria. During her final year placement at Swell Centre for Spirituality and Wellbeing, she facilitated an eco-print course with members of the Habitat Artist's Studio, engaged members of the community in a collaborative artwork as part of conference, and curated a number of exhibitions.
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Qualifications:
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Association Memberships:
Michelle has facilitated sessions for:
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Cancellation policy
For individual sessions
A cancellation fee of 50% of the session is charged with less than 48 hours notice given. If a change needs to be made earlier, there is a $5 fee to cover charges being made by the venue for cancellations. For less than three hours notice, the full session fee will be applied.
For workshops/events
If a participant chooses to cancel their confirmed registration, or cannot or does not attend the workshop, the following refunds will apply:
The registered participant may invite another person to substitute their place in the workshop (in which they are registered) at any time at no
charge
Participants may cancel their workshop/event registration without penalty up until 7 days prior to the event.
Cancellations received less than 7 days before a workshop/event will incur a 50% administration fee.
Cancellations received the day before, the day of, or after an event will not be eligible for a refund.
A cancellation fee of 50% of the session is charged with less than 48 hours notice given. If a change needs to be made earlier, there is a $5 fee to cover charges being made by the venue for cancellations. For less than three hours notice, the full session fee will be applied.
For workshops/events
If a participant chooses to cancel their confirmed registration, or cannot or does not attend the workshop, the following refunds will apply:
The registered participant may invite another person to substitute their place in the workshop (in which they are registered) at any time at no
charge
Participants may cancel their workshop/event registration without penalty up until 7 days prior to the event.
Cancellations received less than 7 days before a workshop/event will incur a 50% administration fee.
Cancellations received the day before, the day of, or after an event will not be eligible for a refund.