Imagerie Creations in Morwell, Victoria | Counsellor

Imagerie Creations

Locality: Morwell, Victoria

Phone: +61 412 792 574

Address: 22 Vincent Rd 3840 Morwell, VIC, Australia

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24.01.2022 Here’s the Evidence: Employing Arts Therapists in Schools is Good for Student Mental Health and Wellbeing. Please share the news widely among your networks.

24.01.2022 https://m.facebook.com/story.php

24.01.2022 Nice works with my gates and doors, work.

22.01.2022 A soldier with PTSD fell into a hole and couldnt get out. When a SNCO walked by the Soldier called out for help, but the SNCO yelled back, "Suck it up son, dig... deep and drive on," then threw him a shovel. The Soldier did as he was told and dug that hole deeper. A Senior Officer went by and the Soldier called out for help again. The Officer told him "use the tools your SNCO has given you", then threw him a bucket. The Soldier used the tools and he dug the hole deeper still and filled the bucket. A psychiatrist walked by. The Soldier called, Help! I cant get out! so the psychiatrist gave him some drugs and said, "Take this. It will relieve the pain and you will forget about the hole. The Soldier said "thanks" and followed his advice, but when the pills ran out he was still in the hole. A well-known psychologist rode by and heard the Soldiers cries for help. He stopped and asked, How did you get there? Were you born there? Did your parents put you there? Tell me about yourself, it will alleviate your sense of loneliness. So the Soldier talked with him for an hour, then the psychologist had to leave, but he said hed be back next week. The Soldier thanked him, but he was still in the hole. Another Soldier , just like him, happened to be passing by. The Soldier with PTSD cried out, Hey, help me. Im stuck in this hole! and right away the other Soldier jumped down in there with him. The Soldier with PTSD started to panic and said, What are you doing? Now were both stuck down here! But the other Soldier just smiled and replied, Its okay, calm down, brother. Ive been here before..... I know how to get out. No matter what youre going through, you are never alone. But dont be too proud to SHOUT OUT!, HELP Im stuck in this Hole ... We all get stuck in a hole from time to time but all it takes is to ask your mates for help and we will be there even if we have to jump in that hole with you.

21.01.2022 Findings of the Royal Commission - the impact for Arts Therapy. This article explains how Arts Therapists are included in the blueprint for Victoria’s new Ment...al Health and Wellbeing System. The link includes quotes and references to the final recommendations that you can use to inform your own advocacy of our profession. Please share widely.

20.01.2022 Thoughts about the value of play...

20.01.2022 Mandala creation can be a great tool in assisting with self regulation, and focus.

19.01.2022 Something to try out.

18.01.2022 Friends! Registration is now open for the second annual 2022 CREATIVE MENTAL HEALTH FORUM AND SELF CARE RETREAT... here in Boon Wurrung Country, Inverloch, South Eastern Victoria from 6th - 9th May 2022. It is already filling up quickly so please do register now to ensure your place. REGISTER HERE: https://carlavanlaar.com/registration/ There is a Welcome to Country and social dinner with art and entertainment on Friday. Saturday and Sunday feature Creative Wellbeing and Self Care workshops and presentations at the RACV Resort and outdoors in the environment. Monday includes time for Self Care and a closing ritual at the beach. **Announcements about our wonderful 2022 presenters and facilitators will be shared over the coming months and I am sooooooooo excited to let you know who is in the program!** This Forum supports the goals of the ACTivate Arts Therapy campaign to raise awareness of Creative Arts Therapies as an integral part of Australia's Mental Health and Wellbeing System. WE WELCOME CREATIVE THERAPISTS, ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND EDUCATORS WHO: **want to learn more about creative mental health, **be inspired by holistic and diverse workshops and presenters, **and "refill your well" with time in a beautiful nurturing environment and space for self care. Investment: 4 x $200 payments spread over 8 months Includes Welcome dinner, morning and afternoon teas on Saturday and Sunday, all core workshops at the RACV Resort. Does not include accomodation - please book your own. REGISTER HERE: https://carlavanlaar.com/registration/ VIEW THE 2021 FILM HERE AND GET A FEEL FOR THE EVENT: https://vimeo.com/578978435 I look forward to once again sharing this special space with you. X Carla :-) #mentalhealth #wellbeing #art #educators #wellness #education #health #australia #community #healthcare #event #environment #creativementalhealth #arttherapy #arttherapypd #creative

14.01.2022 South Gippsland Sentinel article I’ve already been contacted by one more local arts therapist from Fish Creek who saw this in the local paper. Keep spreading the word by whatever means! Connections and ripple effects abound xxxx

13.01.2022 Superb crafts and art ideas.

13.01.2022 Those who spend at least two hours a week engaged in arts-related activities reported significantly better mental well being. Read more here: http://bit.ly/1JZPTFv

12.01.2022 Just a reminder

12.01.2022 Thought of the Moment: This is one of my favorite frameworks that I use frequently when speaking about trauma. What I am learning now is the current societal di...sruption in being able to relate in the usual ways to each other (proximity, touch, engagement) is a major challenge to the base of the inverted pyramid-regulation. We have to find synchrony and a good rhythm with each other (co-relationships) in other ways right now, I believe its critical. Reparative connection with others is a critical wellness experience that is the foundation for all regulation experiences. See more

12.01.2022 https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1665257770182580&id=128645453843827

09.01.2022 Please pass this forward. WE WILL NOT STOP SINGING. We will continue to foster creativity and arts.

08.01.2022 Autism explained in the most beautiful way. Created by: Alexander Amelines "Break the barriers" ... #autism

08.01.2022 Dear ACTivators! Please share this article as a follow up with everyone who has supported our awareness raising efforts, including the local members, schools, o...rganisations and individuals. We want to let everyone know the good news that we are still here and actively continuing our work to promote greater choices and access to creative therapies in the mental health and wellbeing space. See more

07.01.2022 How lovely is this. Maybe we should be doing this in all sectors. Wonder how this would impact on people.

07.01.2022 I thought this was (is) so beautiful, I downloaded all 10 images ... Repost @victoria.emanuela .... . . . . . . #Embodiment #Embodied #Body #MindBody #ListenToYourBody #TheBodyRemembers #BodyMemory #BodyMemories #BodyTrust #Trauma #ComplexTrauma #PTSD #PTSDAwareness #ComplexPTSD #CPTSD #TraumaInformed #PostTraumatic #ChildAbuse #ChildSexualAbuse #DevelopmentalTrauma #Abuse #Grief #GriefSupport #GriefAndLoss #Loss #Oppression #OppressionIsTrauma #SelfCare #Safety See more

05.01.2022 Sometimes, #children who have issues self-regulating or who regularly fall off their chairs or who are in constant motion or who have uncommon troubles with ...toilet training may be having #sensory difficulties that need to be compassionately recognised and addressed. Weve all heard of the 5 senses. Yet there are actually 8 main senses that are part of the sensory system in the body. Unfortunately, 3 of them are virtually unheard of, not just because they are hard to explain and pronounce, but also because they only come up when theres a problem. Another reason many have not heard of sensory processing or integration issues confined to the additional 3 senses is because of a debate that continues to unfurl in the wider clinical community. It is occupational therapists (OTs) who first theorised that sensory processing and sensory integration issues are a source of distress for many children and their families. Many issues still progress unrecognised by other specialists as they are sometimes not diagnosed under neurodevelopmental disorders or sensory processing issues. Yet it is indisputable across the disciplines that identifying sensory issues and working with an OT helps many children become calmer and better regulated. All parents and educators who wish to optimise childrens physical development should have a recognition of a childs 8 developing senses, and not just limit #play and learning opportunities to the realms of #sight, #sound, #smell, #taste and #touch. The other 3 senses and how to recognise problems with them are explored below. #VESTIBULAR SYSTEM The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that help control balance, eye movement and spatial orientation. It helps keep you stable and upright. It is the leading system informing us about movement and position of head relative to gravity. A bodys movements include two positions rotations and linear directionality, all of which need development. The vestibular system sends signals primarily to the neural parts of the #brain that control our eye movements and that keep us balanced and upright. #PROPRIOCEPTION The proprioceptive system senses the position, location, orientation, and movement of the body muscles and joints. Proprioception provides us with the sense of the relative position of neighbouring parts of the body and effort used to move body parts. Proprioception is activated by input to a proprioceptor in the periphery of the body. The proprioceptive sense combines sensory information from neurons in the inner ear (detecting motion and orientation) and stretch receptors in the muscles and the joint-supporting ligaments for stance. Because of proprioception, if you raise your hand, you know that your arm is over your head. You dont have to think about it or look in a mirror. Kids who have trouble with the vestibular sense or proprioception could struggle with motor skills in a number of ways. They may seem awkward and clumsy. An activity like running or even going up and down stairs may be hard for kids who have difficulty knowing how their body is oriented and whether its stable. They may move slowly or avoid activities that are too challenging. They may not know their own strength and use more muscles than they need for simple tasks, breaking pencil tips, ripping pages or giving overenthusiastic hugs. They may not like physical activities that other kids find fun. For example, they may not feel safe on the swings because theyre not getting the sensory input that tells them theyre securely seated. They may be in constant motion, bump into things or seem out of control. When kids dont get enough feedback from the sensory system, they may exaggerate their movements to get the information they need from the environment. When they walk down a hallway, they may knock into the wall to feel more anchored. They may kick their legs under their desk for the same reason. They may love physical activity like doing flips off the diving board or just jumping up and down. #INTEROCEPTION Interoception refers to sensations related to the physiological/physical condition of the body. Interoceptors are internal sensors that provide a sense of what our internal organs are feeling. Hunger and thirst are examples of interoception. It detects responses that guide regulation, including hunger, heart rate, respiration and elimination. The stimulation is detected through nerve endings lining the respiratory and digestive mucous membranes, and it works alongside the vestibular and proprioceptive senses to determine how a person perceives their own body. Well-modulated interoception helps the person detect sensations normally. For example, if a person feels their heart pounding, while it is not comfortable, trauma from the stimulation is not likely; nor will the stimulation be craved. The same is true for hunger and thirst, as well as the feeling of the need to urinate or have a bowel movement. Kids who struggle with the interoceptive sense may have trouble knowing when they feel hungry, full, hot, cold or thirsty. Having trouble with this sense can also make self-regulation a challenge. Most of us know if were hungry, full, hot, cold, thirsty, nauseated, itchy or ticklish. For kids with sensory processing issues, the brain may have trouble making sense of that information. They may not be able to tell when theyre feeling pain or when their bladder is full. An itch may feel like pain or pain may feel ticklish. Kids who struggle with the interoceptive sense can also have trouble feeling their emotions. They may not be as tuned in to the body cues that help interpret emotion. Without being able to feel and interpret those body sensations, its harder to clearly identify the emotion. For instance, a child may not feel fear because they dont recognise that their muscles are tense, their breathing is shallow and their heart is racing. Kids who are under-responsive to interoceptive sensory input may not feel or respond to sensations when they should. They may take longer than other kids to learn to use the toilet or have more frequent accidents. They may not eat as often as others because they may not feel hunger or thirst. WHAT CAN YOU DO? If you suspect your child has sensory processing issues, consider having them evaluated by an occupational therapist (OT) who specialises in sensory integration. Follow the instructions from your therapist and spend some quality time together having fun. With vestibular sense or proprioception, you may find yourself helping your child complete activities that give them opportunities to use their arms and legs at the same time. Encourage your child to spend time in free play. Make a home obstacle course, show them how to do a push-up, or just have them help rake leaves and carry groceries. With interoception, you may find that a therapist directs your child more towards mindfulness activities like meditation, which can help kids be more aware of interoceptive sensations in their bodies. Heavy work (activity that pushes or pulls against the body) or a sensory diet may be helpful as well. The point is to give your child the sensory input that they need to feel in control of their body. When they get this information, it will help them feel more stable and focused. One of the reasons that children so naturally want to fidget, jump, balance, climb, and run around with each other is because of their natural instincts to develop all of their 8 senses as they grow. Over time, most kids will figure out their own strategies to work around their weaknesses and play to their strengths. https://childmind.org/ar/the-debate-over-sensory-processing https://www.misophoniainternational.com/you-have-8-senses-n https://www.understood.org//interoception-and-sensory-proc https://www.understood.org//how-sensory-processing-issues- #neurochild #giftedness #letthemplay

05.01.2022 Amazing story. Powerful and confronting, a story of survival

05.01.2022 Was talking about this to someone today.

03.01.2022 WHAT IS CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY? "2021 Creative Mental Health" is a 12 minute documentary that illustrates the diversity of practice within the Australian Arts Therapies, and showcases how creative approaches in mental health and wellbeing are holistic, person centred, inclusive and value lived experience. Filmed onsite in Boon Wurrung Country, South Eastern Victoria, and featuring presenters and guests at the 2021 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat. ... This event supported the goals of the ACTivate Arts Therapy Campaign to gain recognition of Creative Arts Therapists as valued members of Victoria's Mental Health and Well Being workforce. For more information please visit: https://carlavanlaar.com/retreats-2/ or contact Dr Carla van Laar AThR here: https://carlavanlaar.com/contact/ Register for the 2022 Creative Mental Health Forum and Self Care Retreat 6th - 9th May 2022, Inverloch Victoria here: https://carlavanlaar.com/registration/ #ACTivateAT #creativementalhealth #arttherapy #mentalhealth #wellness #arttherapyPD #wellbeing #carlavanlaar

03.01.2022 Its futile to try to gain control of a child by commanding, yelling, punishing or engaging in cognitive manipulations to respond to difficult behaviour. When a... child surrenders, from a #brain state point of view, it can fuel fear or intimidation and put the child in a lower brain state. This is why children can become reflexive and their emotions and behaviour can escalate in challenging situations. The lower in the brain that a child is operatingthat is, the closer to their brainstem the less time-perceptive, less cognitive, more reflexive and more emotional they will therefore be. And the brain state of a child has significant impacts on their ability to listen, learn, comprehend and cope with life circumstances. There are different reasons why a dysregulated brain state can occur, and sometimes children who are labeled with #ADHD or #ADD are operating more in the lower part of their brains due to #traumatic sets of events. Whether that is the situation or not, it can always be helpful to remember that their little brains developed originally from the bottom to the top, meaning brainstem first and then the rest of the brain sequentially, up to their neocortex. Therefore in order to deal with a child who is dysregulated, we should always be working from the bottom to the top of the brain in the style in which we engage and connect with an upset child. A memorable three-step method to help a child to come to a place of calm and clarity can be seen in Dr Bruce Perrys use of the three Rs for this process. It begins with techniques for regulation, then it moves to relationship, and then it progresses to reason. This brain-based approach can vary a little with each individual child in timing or depth, and can usually be determined with some trial and error once you recognise how your little one is experiencing the world. Not sure where to start? Choose some of these easy tips to remind yourself about most effective responses. Reflect on what is appropriate for each child, keeping in mind their personal circumstance and character. Note: Weve created some print-outs of the lists below that might come in handy. They are attached as JPEGs in pictures below this post. #REGULATE Encourage somatosensory experiences: move the muscle groups with hugs, weighted blankets, or rhythmic and repetitive activities such as playing catch, rocking or drumming. Engage in patterned, repetitive rhythmic activity: walking, running, dancing, singing, or repetitive meditative breathing. Offer top-down reassurance: say things such as Im not mad, Youre not in trouble," This doesnt seem like a big deal," or Youre safe. Use relational tools: with reflective listening, clarifying questions, or authentic empathy where you actively and truly try to understand whats being experienced by the child. Practice disassociation: let it happen. Time can be a friend, and sometimes thats really ok, and the best thing for your little loved one to regulate them self. Get down low: standing over the child can make them feel overwhelmed, while kneeling down at their level creates safety. #LetThemPlay: natures greatest self-regulator is simple, uncomplicated, unstructured play. #RELATE Play together: the ultimate connector that creates sacred space. Love that child: say I love you, or focus on love and nurturing. Follow your heart. Use language to bond: remind them of all the fun things that are planned, or the little things about them that youre proud of. Realign yourselves: genuinely connect with their interests so that they can feel youre working towards the same goals. Hug: the age-old way of producing oxytocin, hugging helps to calm the nervous system and create a relaxed state. Share activities: think on what your child loves to do and do it. Be silly: a 4-year-old laughs 300 times a day, compared to our 17 times a day. Let them help you connect with yourself, too. Really see each other: focus on each other, not the problem. Problems make us forget ourselves, but we need ourselves to fix any problem. #REASON Use collaborative problem solving: find solutions to problems that work for everyone - adults and kids alike. Explain the why: it helps change behaviour when reasons are known. Share your feelings: some children havent yet developed full theory of mind, where they understand others realities, so let them understand. Reflect together: package what happened neatly and chronologically, emphasising cause and effect; and also reflect emotionally. Ask questions: learn something new from each other. Articulate: words sometimes need multiple exposures to gain meaning or nuance. Keep trying. Encourage confidence: action requires empowerment. Give compliments, highlight what was done well, and fan the flames of courage. Simulate to stimulate: Walk through solutions with doll play, telling or creating stories, putting on puppet shows, or drawing reflective pictures or artworks to encode learning deeper and make it easy to remember. Responding to difficult behaviour in a way that supports the whole child and their whole brain will make interactions easier and kinder. Be mindful that challenging behaviours can trigger our own fight-flight-freeze responses, and so whole brain responses can actually be easier and kinder for everyone involved. #neurochild #brainscience #familygoals #bekind

02.01.2022 Finding My Feet. My latest article in Counsellors Cafe magazine, linking with the last event we ran at The Potting Shed exploring self-care in therapy. #arttherapy #resilience #burnout #grounding https://www.thecounsellorscafe.co.uk//Finding-my-feet-grou

01.01.2022 Help is always available and you never know when you might need it. Bookmark, save, share or print