What is art therapy?
In individual therapeutic sessions, you will experience a safe and supportive space for reflection and inquiry. I bring a deep listening presence to you in your experience, inviting exploration of your feelings, thoughts, and body sensations through skilled reflections, mirroring and inquiry.
You will be invited to move beyond the everyday mind, using mindfulness practices, noticing body sensations, or paying attention to your relationship with arts materials and process. If you choose to make art, your artistic representations may also offer a door to new knowing, helping you to inquire, reflect and find meaning.
You will be invited to move beyond the everyday mind, using mindfulness practices, noticing body sensations, or paying attention to your relationship with arts materials and process. If you choose to make art, your artistic representations may also offer a door to new knowing, helping you to inquire, reflect and find meaning.
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Individual therapeutic sessions can be particularly helpful if you are experiencing:
Or, if you've been longing to explore:
Through art therapy, you may experience:
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FAQs
"But what if I can't draw?"
You don't need to be an artist to benefit from art therapy. It's about the process of making, more than the outcome.
"Will you interpret my art?"
Rest assured that I will not interpret your art, but instead will ask open questions to assist you in finding your own meaning.
"What if I do it wrong?"
There is no right or wrong way to make art, and no right or wrong way to respond to it.
"What will I be doing?"
Art therapy may engage a range of modalities including visual art, clay work, sculpture, collage, dream work, installation, sound, or movement.
"Do I have to use paint?"
You may choose the materials that resonate with you, or that challenge you. These may include pencils, soft pastels, oil pastels, clay, collage, paint, natural materials, textiles, found objects...
"What are the benefits?"
Art therapy research has shown many benefits across physical, emotional, psychological, social and spiritual domains. Art therapy may help you to manage anxiety and depression, or to navigate challenging life experiences such as serious illness or bereavement. It may also help you to find new perspective and insight, to process and regulate emotions, and to cultivate qualities such as mindfulness, awareness, trust, openness, or curiosity.
You don't need to be an artist to benefit from art therapy. It's about the process of making, more than the outcome.
"Will you interpret my art?"
Rest assured that I will not interpret your art, but instead will ask open questions to assist you in finding your own meaning.
"What if I do it wrong?"
There is no right or wrong way to make art, and no right or wrong way to respond to it.
"What will I be doing?"
Art therapy may engage a range of modalities including visual art, clay work, sculpture, collage, dream work, installation, sound, or movement.
"Do I have to use paint?"
You may choose the materials that resonate with you, or that challenge you. These may include pencils, soft pastels, oil pastels, clay, collage, paint, natural materials, textiles, found objects...
"What are the benefits?"
Art therapy research has shown many benefits across physical, emotional, psychological, social and spiritual domains. Art therapy may help you to manage anxiety and depression, or to navigate challenging life experiences such as serious illness or bereavement. It may also help you to find new perspective and insight, to process and regulate emotions, and to cultivate qualities such as mindfulness, awareness, trust, openness, or curiosity.
The Cocoon therapeutic Approach - Paradigms and practices
Individual therapeutic sessions incorporate practices and techniques from person-centred counseling, spiritual care practice, transpersonal art therapy, and the MIECAT form of inquiry, within a humanistic and phenomenological approach to therapy. In this approach, you are at the center of the process. I, as your companion, am following and responding to your naturally unfolding process toward integration and wholeness. I act as companion and witness in the journey, inviting you to deepen your relationship with yourself via engagement with the arts, questioning and reflection.
Cocoon Creative Arts Therapies also deeply values the wisdom of somatic (body)-based and nature-based approaches and incorporates Focusing (Gendlin) techniques, Soulcraft and Wild Mind processes, meditation, ritual, myth, dream-work, alongside art-making.
Cocoon Creative Arts Therapies also deeply values the wisdom of somatic (body)-based and nature-based approaches and incorporates Focusing (Gendlin) techniques, Soulcraft and Wild Mind processes, meditation, ritual, myth, dream-work, alongside art-making.
What participants say about cocoon individual Sessions...
"What is unique and highly valuable for me about Michelle’s overall approach is how she weaves together the many modalities she works with – be it counselling, bodywork, creative arts, sound/voice… – that give me an expanded capacity to view my situation from varied perspectives" Stacia Beazley of The Art of Relating
"I had not created original inspired painted art since I was very young. I had a very personal idea that I wanted to express over a number of canvases and had been procrastinating for years not knowing when and how to start. I approached Michelle to help guide me through a creative process and to kick start my dream. I am so appreciative of the way Michelle facilitated the sessions. She was gentle in her approach and helped me unblock all of the fears and apprehensions I had throughout the process. I have not experienced this much joy and flow for a long time and enjoyed the space that Michelle held in order for me to express my creative dream" (Carlo).
"I’ve been blessed to be in the healing presence of Michelle several times. Each time is a little different as Michelle has the capacity to tune in to what is wanting to be heard and or held within me in any given moment. What is unique and highly valuable for me about Michelle’s overall approach is how she weaves together the many modalities she works with – be it counselling, bodywork, creative arts, sound/voice… – that give me an expanded capacity to view my situation from varied perspectives. I don’t know many people who do this.
I appreciate Michelle’s capacity to deeply listen and reflect things back to me that I don’t even notice I’m saying, but are coming through my communication none-the-less. This insight is so valuable for me to be able to come into contact with and understand even more of myself so I can make decisions from a place of deeper self-awareness.
On a physical level I’ve have received bodywork from Michelle and again her capacity to place a hand on exactly the part that is feeling pain often amazes me. It’s like she know exactly where go and stands beside me, holding something with me that feels too big to hold myself. In doing so I can relax more into listening to this part of my body that is harbouring discomfort and bring about ease through physical touch as well as gentle invitations to feel and voice what needs to be felt, heard and expressed.
If you want a safe cocoon to delve into for a journey of self-inquiry I really recommend creating some time to spend with Michelle" (Stacia Beazley).
"I’ve been blessed to be in the healing presence of Michelle several times. Each time is a little different as Michelle has the capacity to tune in to what is wanting to be heard and or held within me in any given moment. What is unique and highly valuable for me about Michelle’s overall approach is how she weaves together the many modalities she works with – be it counselling, bodywork, creative arts, sound/voice… – that give me an expanded capacity to view my situation from varied perspectives. I don’t know many people who do this.
I appreciate Michelle’s capacity to deeply listen and reflect things back to me that I don’t even notice I’m saying, but are coming through my communication none-the-less. This insight is so valuable for me to be able to come into contact with and understand even more of myself so I can make decisions from a place of deeper self-awareness.
On a physical level I’ve have received bodywork from Michelle and again her capacity to place a hand on exactly the part that is feeling pain often amazes me. It’s like she know exactly where go and stands beside me, holding something with me that feels too big to hold myself. In doing so I can relax more into listening to this part of my body that is harbouring discomfort and bring about ease through physical touch as well as gentle invitations to feel and voice what needs to be felt, heard and expressed.
If you want a safe cocoon to delve into for a journey of self-inquiry I really recommend creating some time to spend with Michelle" (Stacia Beazley).
Ethics Guidelines
Cocoon Creative Arts Therapies adheres to Ethics and confidentiality guidelines offered by ANZACATA.
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.
