A WOMEN\u2019S art therapy program is set to launch in the region, led by staff at Hesse Rural Health.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Ms Devonport said the project was created to foster engagement with Hesse\u2019s allied health services and to introduce people to self-reflection through creativity.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistorically, the process of using art has been quite common as a way to explore different experiences from the past and present,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a quiet, reflective practice that people often find easier to express things through than with words.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is to create a safe space where people can come together weekly and participate in guided creative activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worked for about 10 years with an art therapist running women\u2019s groups before I became a counsellor here, so I\u2019ve studied creative therapies before and saw how beneficial it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
The program will cost $30 and is capped at 10 people with those registered expected to attend all six sessions.<\/p>\n
Ms Devonport said all women are welcome regardless of artistic ability.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s open to any women who want to join,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019ll be during the day so it could be for an older demographic or women who have kids at school.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll get out of this what you put in, but it does build a strong sense of safety and support.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll start each session off with a warmup activity with putting a colour on paper reflecting how you feel, then we\u2019ll engage in guided relaxation with a different theme each week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be kept simple with just drawing or painting and paper.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hesse Rural Health\u2019s women\u2019s art therapy program will begin on Wednesday, 15 February with each session running from 10.30am to 12pm.<\/p>\n
To register, email Ms Devonport at jdevonport@hesse.vic.gov.au or call 5267 1200.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A WOMEN\u2019S 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 […]<\/p>\n