Creative Arts-Based Interventions to Address Trauma: Practical Strategies for Supporting Children, Adolescents and Caregivers
Tracks
Tamborine Gallery - In-Person Only
| Monday, March 24, 2025 |
| 3:05 PM - 4:05 PM |
Overview
Dr Kate Aitchison & Ms Farah Suleman, Children's Health Queensland
Presenter
Dr Kate Aitchison
Creative Arts Therapies Project Coordinator
Children's Health Queensland
Creative Arts-Based Interventions to Address Trauma: Practical Strategies for Supporting Children, Adolescents and Caregivers
Abstract
This workshop will provide practical skills to enhance clinical practice with simple creative-arts-based interventions. Participants do not need to have any musical or artistic experience or skill to benefit from the workshop
Music therapy and art therapy (creative arts therapies) are increasingly being offered for children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced trauma. However, creative arts therapists are not available in all mental health services, leading to inequitable access to valuable and potentially useful interventions. Whilst music therapists and art therapists have tertiary-training in the therapeutic use of music or art, there are some interventions which can be employed by other mental health clinicians.
An online training package, “Creative arts in paediatric healthcare: A guide for clinicians” was developed by the first presenter to fill a gap in knowledge and skills regarding the appropriate use of creative-arts-based interventions. The package was developed with a grant and is available for clinicians working in Children’s Health Queensland. This workshop provides an opportunity for clinicians working in other settings to benefit from the information and competences covered in this training package.
The workshop will be facilitated by an advanced music therapist and senior art therapist. An overview of arts in health frameworks, foundation knowledge and essential attitudes for using creative arts with people experiencing trauma and/or psychological distress will set the scene. Practical tips on materials and equipment will also be provided. Experiential learning activities will cover interventions to promote engagement and support relaxation, exploration and regulation. Music-based interventions will include music discussion, music-assisted relaxation, focused music listening and playlist construction. Art-based interventions will include drawing games, body-mapping, and collage.
Throughout the workshop, potential risks and scope-of-practice issues will be addressed. The facilitators will share experiences from their practice and explain indicators for referral to a professional music therapist or art therapist.
Music therapy and art therapy (creative arts therapies) are increasingly being offered for children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced trauma. However, creative arts therapists are not available in all mental health services, leading to inequitable access to valuable and potentially useful interventions. Whilst music therapists and art therapists have tertiary-training in the therapeutic use of music or art, there are some interventions which can be employed by other mental health clinicians.
An online training package, “Creative arts in paediatric healthcare: A guide for clinicians” was developed by the first presenter to fill a gap in knowledge and skills regarding the appropriate use of creative-arts-based interventions. The package was developed with a grant and is available for clinicians working in Children’s Health Queensland. This workshop provides an opportunity for clinicians working in other settings to benefit from the information and competences covered in this training package.
The workshop will be facilitated by an advanced music therapist and senior art therapist. An overview of arts in health frameworks, foundation knowledge and essential attitudes for using creative arts with people experiencing trauma and/or psychological distress will set the scene. Practical tips on materials and equipment will also be provided. Experiential learning activities will cover interventions to promote engagement and support relaxation, exploration and regulation. Music-based interventions will include music discussion, music-assisted relaxation, focused music listening and playlist construction. Art-based interventions will include drawing games, body-mapping, and collage.
Throughout the workshop, potential risks and scope-of-practice issues will be addressed. The facilitators will share experiences from their practice and explain indicators for referral to a professional music therapist or art therapist.
Biography
Dr Kate Aitchison is a senior music therapist and creative arts therapies project coordinator with 17 years’ experience establishing, developing, and providing music therapy in public child and youth mental health services. Kate works with consumers and families experiencing severe, complex and enduring mental health challenges. In 2013, Kate completed a master of mental health, psychotherapy. Kate’s PhD was conferred this year. Her research focused on young people’s lived experiences of mental health assessment and resource-oriented music therapy assessment. Kate has published a book chapter on songwriting with adolescents and four journal articles based on her research and practice.
Farah Suleman
Senior Art Therapist
Children's Health Queensland
Creative Arts-Based Interventions to Address Trauma: Practical Strategies for Supporting Children, Adolescents and Caregivers
Abstract
This workshop will provide practical skills to enhance clinical practice with simple creative-arts-based interventions. Participants do not need to have any musical or artistic experience or skill to benefit from the workshop
Music therapy and art therapy (creative arts therapies) are increasingly being offered for children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced trauma. However, creative arts therapists are not available in all mental health services, leading to inequitable access to valuable and potentially useful interventions. Whilst music therapists and art therapists have tertiary-training in the therapeutic use of music or art, there are some interventions which can be employed by other mental health clinicians.
An online training package, “Creative arts in paediatric healthcare: A guide for clinicians” was developed by the first presenter to fill a gap in knowledge and skills regarding the appropriate use of creative-arts-based interventions. The package was developed with a grant and is available for clinicians working in Children’s Health Queensland. This workshop provides an opportunity for clinicians working in other settings to benefit from the information and competences covered in this training package.
The workshop will be facilitated by an advanced music therapist and senior art therapist. An overview of arts in health frameworks, foundation knowledge and essential attitudes for using creative arts with people experiencing trauma and/or psychological distress will set the scene. Practical tips on materials and equipment will also be provided. Experiential learning activities will cover interventions to promote engagement and support relaxation, exploration and regulation. Music-based interventions will include music discussion, music-assisted relaxation, focused music listening and playlist construction. Art-based interventions will include drawing games, body-mapping, and collage.
Throughout the workshop, potential risks and scope-of-practice issues will be addressed. The facilitators will share experiences from their practice and explain indicators for referral to a professional music therapist or art therapist.
Music therapy and art therapy (creative arts therapies) are increasingly being offered for children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced trauma. However, creative arts therapists are not available in all mental health services, leading to inequitable access to valuable and potentially useful interventions. Whilst music therapists and art therapists have tertiary-training in the therapeutic use of music or art, there are some interventions which can be employed by other mental health clinicians.
An online training package, “Creative arts in paediatric healthcare: A guide for clinicians” was developed by the first presenter to fill a gap in knowledge and skills regarding the appropriate use of creative-arts-based interventions. The package was developed with a grant and is available for clinicians working in Children’s Health Queensland. This workshop provides an opportunity for clinicians working in other settings to benefit from the information and competences covered in this training package.
The workshop will be facilitated by an advanced music therapist and senior art therapist. An overview of arts in health frameworks, foundation knowledge and essential attitudes for using creative arts with people experiencing trauma and/or psychological distress will set the scene. Practical tips on materials and equipment will also be provided. Experiential learning activities will cover interventions to promote engagement and support relaxation, exploration and regulation. Music-based interventions will include music discussion, music-assisted relaxation, focused music listening and playlist construction. Art-based interventions will include drawing games, body-mapping, and collage.
Throughout the workshop, potential risks and scope-of-practice issues will be addressed. The facilitators will share experiences from their practice and explain indicators for referral to a professional music therapist or art therapist.
Biography
Farah Suleman is an accredited arts therapist who is registered with ANZACATA. She has worked in clinical and NGO settings, in the transcultural sector for over 15 years. Her areas of interest have been child and youth mental health with a focus on creative models of healing, using attachment, trauma-informed and culturally sensitive frameworks. She also enjoys creative debriefing and supervision to support individuals, teams, and communities. Farah is currently a senior art therapist at the Day Program at Jacaranda Place. She also lectures at UQ in the Masters in Mental Health – Art Therapy.
