Welcome

Kookaburra Art Therapy offers nature-based, neuro- and gender- affirming Creative Arts Psychotherapy.  

I, Helena (she/her) offer safety, gentle creative inquiry to all. 

You are supported with genuine care and informed by lived experience. I am an Autistic, Adhd and PDA late-diagnosed parent, raising a neuro-sparkly and gender diverse family. Struggles with caregiver burnout, unmasking, social difficulties, redescovering authenticity, learning to lean into sensory joy and energy levels, and re-wiring life and relationships to serve a neurodivergent body have all been part of my journey. 

Why offer Psychotherapy in nature?

Nature offers a deeply felt sense of safety. This allows difficult therapeutic content to emerge and be worked with more safely. Nature is a non clinical and judgment free environment. She offers space to hold difficult thoughts, feelings and emotions. Finally, Nature also and without trying offers sensory inputs that soothe and calm the nervous system, allowing the mind to quiet and insight to emerge.

Kookaburra Art Therapy practices on Kaurna lands. 

I respect and acknowledge Aboriginal elders past, present, and emerging, and I am deeply grateful to be allowed to practice here. These lands were never ceded. Treaty was never signed. This land always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land. 

How does it work?

Creative Arts Psychotherapy, also called Expressive Arts Therapy or Art Therapy, is a more-than-verbal multi-modal therapeutic modality. 

What does this mean?

You express thoughts, feelings or emotions with full autonomy and choice, whether via words, movement or a choice of creative materials and activities including visual art, movement, tactile materials such as clay or play dough, "found" nature materials and more. You are gently supported via invitations and reflections that you are welcome to take up or disregard. The process adapts naturally to your needs in that moment. In working with those thoughts, feelings and emotions in a tangible form, naturally you will notice ideas bubble up, a new perspective or a shift in your body that allows to let go of tension or stress. Any ideas that bubble up are completely your own and therefore fluidly integrated. 

Being a gentle, high-autonomy, trauma-informed therapy modality, this therapy suits PDA individuals as well as persons with communication differences, social differences, disempowered people or minorities, disabilities as well as those holding high levels of anxiety and trauma in their body or struggling with depression or burnout.

Professional associations

Kookaburra Art Therapy is registered with ANZACATA, the peak professional body for Creative Arts Therapists in Australia and New Zealand. A professional standard of therapeutic service is continually maintained and insured.

Kookaburra Art Therapy is a proud member of Outdoor Health Australia. 

Find us in the Rainbow Directory SA  as a LGBTQIA+ ally and kindred spirit.