Mon-Fri 9am-6pm

WHAT IS CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY?

Creative Arts Therapists use art, dance, music, drama and storytelling to help people change, heal and explore themselves within the safe environment of a therapeutic relationship.

How can the Creative Arts Therapies help?

* By stimulating imagination and creativity
* By helping people explore things that are difficult to talk about
* By increasing people’s confidence
* By providing a safe, playful environment where people can explore issues through symbols, dance and drama
* By building social skills
* By helping people develop their physical co-ordination

Creative Arts Therapies are particularly good for:

* People who find it hard to express themselves verbally
* People with behavioural problems, such as low self-esteem, poor concentration and relationship issues
* People with stress and anxiety
* People who self-harm or express their pain physically
* Children with developmental delays
* Anyone who wishes to explore their life journey through creative means

Creative Arts Therapists will have taken a postgraduate course in clinical disciplines including psychology and psychotherapy, as well as having an in-depth knowledge of the theory and practice of creativity.

They will also have followed their own therapeutic journey as part of their training and have ongoing supervision to ensure the highest professional standards.

Caroline is a creative arts therapist with over 24 years' experience in human development and the healing arts. She has worked with children and adults, groups and individuals, as well as with schools, children with special needs, mental health patients, drug users and the elderly.

She qualified in the UK as an occupational therapist at Oxford Brookes University in 1985 and then trained as an art therapist at Hatfield University in 1991.

Caroline spent three years working in mental health in Malaysia, and returned to the UK to work at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. During this time she also was regularly consulted as an expert by psychiatrists in Harley Street.

Subsequently, she was a part of the West London artists' community at ACAVA (Association for Cultural Advancement through the Visual Arts) developing community studios for people with mental health problems.

In Singapore since 2001, she developed the first Masters programme in Art Therapy for LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts.

She now runs training programmes in the healing arts for the Singapore Social Services Training Institute, and the National Institute of Education. She teaches counsellors, welfare workers, teachers, parents and artists, as well as running special creative sessions with children.

Caroline is also a practising artist and mother of three.

She has presented at international conferences for nearly 20 years on topics including:

"Transcultural Psychiatry - Challenges to Occupational Therapy", World Federation of Occupational Therapist Congress, Melbourne, 1990.

"Art In Therapy and Psychosocial rehabilitation - a Transcultural Perspective" World Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation,(WAPR) Congress Montreal 1991.

"Art as a Medium of Empowerment and Integration for People with Mental Health Problems", WAPR Congress, Dublin, 1993.

"Batik as a Therapeutic Medium", First Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Congress, Kuala Lumpur, 1995.

"ARTSPACE - A new Initiative in Mental Health", Culture, Health and the Arts World Symposium, Manchester, 1999.

"The Arts in Health and Therapy - a new concept in Singapore" Synergy; Art, Health and Design World Symposium, Sydney, 2003

"Arts for Health, an emerging International Initiative - Exploring the role of Occupational Therapists." 3rd Asia-Pacific Occupational Therapy Congress, Singapore, 2003

"Creative versus destructive self- expression; exploring the role of Art Therapy interventions in suicide management." 2nd Asia Pacific Suicide Prevention Conference, Singapore 2006.

"Creative Arts Therapy- exploring frameworks for working with trauma." Traumatic Incidents- Early Intervention Conference. Singapore 2008

TESTIMONIALS

What people have said about Caroline's courses

"Thank you so much for the sessions, I couldn't bear to miss any of them. Inspiring, it was indeed a very unique learning experience. Beyond my expectations"

"I learned to understand my own creative expression which could be translated at home to a better understanding of my daughter's creative expression"

"Caroline is very experienced and knowledgeable in the field of art therapy. Lessons are always interesting as she incorporates both theory and practical activities"

"Art Therapy is appealing to children. It is definitely much easier to establish a good helping relationship with the children through the use of arts"

"Caroline is very experienced and very open to ideas. She provided a lot of space for exploration and discussion"

"The course allows us to explore self, help increase self-awareness and enhance our sensitivity towards others"

"Loved it, please continue"

What people have said about Caroline's individual work:

"Working with Caroline was of benefit from the parent-child bonding perspective as a result of better understanding of each other's creative expression"

CREATE Creative Arts, Therapy and Training Offers

Introduction to Art Therapy courses

These courses introduce participants to the basic theories and practice of art therapy. They look at what art therapy is, how it came about and how it can be used for self-development and healing. During each session, participants have some theoretical input and are involved in some art-making in an art-therapy context. They will be encouraged to explore their own symbolism and gain insights into the creative process. These courses are suitable for teachers, professionals in the caring professions, artists and parents or anyone wishing to explore how art works in healing.

Discover Yourself through Creative Arts Therapy workshops

As adults we can lose touch with the spontaneity, imagination and playfulness of childhood. Through this two-session workshop, participants are encouraged to get in touch with their non-verbal creative potential. Using art making, creative exploration, storytelling and small group sharing, they will discover their own creative process through working with a trained arts therapist. No previous arts experience is necessary just an openness to play, explore and trust the process.

Drawing Your Way to a Better Relationship With Your Child workshops

This workshop will give parents and children an opportunity to explore and get to know each other through creative art making. Using art therapy approaches and exercises, they will not only have fun and get in touch with their creative selves but also explore their relationship though art making with their children. A journey of creative discovery!

Supervision for people working with the creative arts and healing.

Caroline offers groups and individuals supervision to help them reflect on their own work and develop and maintain professional practice.

Tailor-made talks and workshops on creativity and human development.

Caroline offers consultations to schools, training institutes and welfare services and can design and deliver a variety of creative arts and training services such as:

1. Why play and art are important for our children. A talk for parents. Previously given to UWCSEA International School, Singapore.
2. Managing and working with challenging behaviour in schools. Commissioned by the American School, Singapore.
3. Art as a counselling tool. A specialist training delivered to Ministry of Education counsellors through Executive Counselling and Training Academy, Singapore.

Creative Arts Therapy training courses

Courses involving other art forms such as dance, drama and storytelling and music are also available.