Drawing a picture of self-reflection

A WOMEN’S art therapy program is set to launch in the region, led by staff at Hesse Rural Health.

Set to run for six weeks at Rokewood Community Health, the sessions will be led by counsellor Justine Devonport, who spearheaded the program in Winchelsea last year.

Ms Devonport said the project was created to foster engagement with Hesse’s allied health services and to introduce people to self-reflection through creativity.

“Historically, the process of using art has been quite common as a way to explore different experiences from the past and present,” she said.

“It’s a quiet, reflective practice that people often find easier to express things through than with words.

“This is to create a safe space where people can come together weekly and participate in guided creative activities.

“I worked for about 10 years with an art therapist running women’s groups before I became a counsellor here, so I’ve studied creative therapies before and saw how beneficial it is.”

The program will cost $30 and is capped at 10 people with those registered expected to attend all six sessions.

Ms Devonport said all women are welcome regardless of artistic ability.

“It’s open to any women who want to join,” she said. “It’ll be during the day so it could be for an older demographic or women who have kids at school.

“You’ll get out of this what you put in, but it does build a strong sense of safety and support.

“I’ll start each session off with a warmup activity with putting a colour on paper reflecting how you feel, then we’ll engage in guided relaxation with a different theme each week.

“It’ll be kept simple with just drawing or painting and paper.”

Hesse Rural Health’s women’s art therapy program will begin on Wednesday, 15 February with each session running from 10.30am to 12pm.

To register, email Ms Devonport at [email protected] or call 5267 1200.