I am an Artist and a Writer, a Counsellor/Psychotherapist, and an internationally renowned trainer and workshop presenter. I have a deep interest in healing and spirituality including Painting and Writing as a Creative and Spiritual Practice and I have completed training in different energy and spiritual healing approaches. My qualifications include a Master of Arts in Art Therapy, Diploma of Child Psychotherapy and a Bachelor of Education.
I am immersing into painting and am doing large paintings in acrylics which I love. I also incorporate art and creative processes into journaling and other reflective practices that I engage in. I am participating in classes at the Freedom School of Art with renowned international artist and painting teacher, David Giles. David is the winner of 20 art awards and has exhibited in New York, Paris, Singapore and in Sydney, Melbourne and WA. I was awarded a High Commendation for my painting in the Student Exhibition in 2023. More about my paintings:
I have also immersed into writing over the past 15 years and I have discovered the joys and transcendent experience that writing can offer through different writing forms: Expressive and reflective writing, narrative expressive, fiction/novel writing, non fiction and Writing as a Spiritual Practice. I have participated in writing workshops in Bali, Perth, Sydney, Byron Bay and Melbourne and in many inspiring online programs and writing retreats including with the inspiring Shelley Kenigsberg.
I love and adore dogs and have been a volunteer/foster carer and on the Admin team and Committee with Retriever Rescue WA. I have a great interest in animal communication particularly with dogs, and with animal assisted therapy and the incredible roles dogs have in service work.
Other things that bring me joy are: Reading novels, listening to music, watching movies and series, delicious food and eating out, the beach and travel. I live near the coastal city of Fremantle in Western Australia.
More About My Work and Background:
For many years I was in private practice as a Child Therapist/Play Therapist specialisting in the Humanistic Child Centered Play Therapy approach, a beautiful form of counselling and psychotherapy for children. I completed the Child Centered Play Therapy Intensive Supervision Process and Summer Program at the Center for Play Therapy, University of North Texas in 2001 which was a life changing experience.
I was the Founder and the Director of Play Therapy Australia from 2001- March 2015 and brought Child Centered Play Therapy training to Australia. During this time, I developed and offered Play Therapy Clinical Training Programs and workshops for mental health professionals across Australia, I was privileged to offer clinical supervision and mentoring to many people and to present workshops for agencies, organisations and universities.
I am also the Founder and Director of the Play Therapy Online Training Academy and have been offering self paced online training internationally in Child Centered Play Therapy since 2017. I am grateful to be sharing my knowledge and experience and that of some of the other American leaders in this field, with mental health professionals and others across the world.