Learn how creative practices like symbolic drawing, journey mapping, and visual journaling can support deep, ongoing integration after psychedelic therapy.

This post introduces Lines I Couldn’t Speak, my upcoming reflective art book developed from a series of charcoal drawings made during my experience of postnatal depression. I share the context behind the work and reflect on the importance of creative expression to help make sense of difficult experiences.

Discover the proven benefits of expressive writing based on Dr. James Pennebaker’s research. Learn how 15 minutes a day for four days can reduce stress, calm the nervous system, and support emotional healing, clinician reflection included.

Between 2008 and 2012, I facilitated a creative support program for young mothers in Albany, Western Australia. This professional reflection explores the origins of the program, the clinical relevance of arts-based approaches for teenage parents, and how this formative experience helped shape my integrative approach to mental health practice. Drawing on current research and lived experience, the post highlights the enduring value of accessible, creative interventions in early parenting support.

Psychologist and artist Michelle Saleeba reflects on the role of walking, drawing, and creative practice in slowing down and paying attention to place.

Art therapy supports emotional integration and recovery following ketamine treatment by helping individuals process altered states through creative expression. Learn how these practices can sustain wellbeing.

Art journaling supports mental health by encouraging creative self-expression, stress relief, and personal reflection. Download our free mini guide to start your own practice today.

This article is Part II of a two-part series on pain and art therapy, following Art Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Pain Management. Weaving, has a rhythm to it, something steady, predictable, and calming. The repetition of movement is almost meditative, gently nudging the mind away from pain and into a more peaceful state.

When recovering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the mostly widely used intervention, but for some people, talk therapy can feel overwhelming—especially when cognitive fatigue, memory challenges, and emotional frustration are part of the picture. Could creative expression help?

While trauma-focussed cognitive behavioural therapies (TF-CBTs) are gold standard for treating PTSD, I'm really curious about the integration of art therapy with TF-CBTs. Particularly as a way to overcome the early and significant drop out from TF-CBTs.

Mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder, often involve intense and persistent emotional highs and lows that can feel impossible to control. DBT-informed art therapy offers a way to channel those intense feelings into something creative and therapeutic.

In 2022, I delivered a pilot visual art program for members of the Australian Defence Force. This reflection shares insights from the process, the challenges and strengths of creative work in structured settings, and the role of creative permission in supporting engagement and adaptability.

To creatively kick start your 2023 why not play some Creativity BINGO!

Art and creative pursuits have been shown to play a unique role in lowering stress, while enhancing individual, social and community resilience

In 2019, I facilitated an expressive journaling group at the WA AIDS Council (WAAC) for people living with HIV. While art-making was central, what stood out was the connection, laughter, and shared strength that emerged each week. This blog reflects on the value of creative spaces in chronic illness support, where humour, expression, and peer understanding matter just as much as the page itself.

While tolerance to stress is individual, situations such as Lockdown can be challenging for most of us. There are lots of effective ways to relieve stress, exercise, yoga, music, and time outdoors, all offer stress-relieving potential. But arts and crafts offer some unique advantages and engaging in creative self-expression, is a powerful mindfulness tool.