Art & Expressive Therapy: Embedded Schools Model

Art & Expressive Therapy Embedded Schools Model

Research shows an increasing complexity of need in Australian classrooms. Impacts of trauma and mental health issues are often under reported, and educators are increasingly feeling more responsible for managing children and young people’s mental health needs.

Our Embedded Schools Model provides qualified specialist support that is tailored to each individual, freeing up educators to do what they are passionate about.

This model specifically targets children and young people who “fall through the gaps” because they don’t have access to funding or supports.

Connected Self offers on-site art therapy to provide individual social and emotional support to students through a flexible, dynamic medium. Art Therapy is an evidence-based, effective mental health support, providing a creative outlet to work through challenges. By working collaboratively with the school community, the Embedded Model provides opportunities for shared care and increased school capacity to respond to the individual’s needs in ongoing and sustainable ways.

This also supports development of strong connections between students and their school community and increases the school’s ability to meet wellbeing needs of their students and staff.

Connected Self has worked in over 40 schools in the past 12 years delivering this model of support. By becoming a part of the community, our highly experienced art therapists can offer support and share strategies for best practice outcomes for some of South Australia’s most vulnerable children and young people. All Connected Self Expressive Therapists are supported externally through Clinical Supervision and ongoing PD and support via Connected Self.

Connected Self co -presented with a partner school about this model at The Australian Childhood Foundation’s International Childhood Trauma Conference in Melbourne in 2018.

Teacher wellbeing also a focus of the Embedded Schools model

According to the Mental Health in Education Survey (2024), mental health is one of the top issues in education, for educators and students, with 77% of participants noting anxiety and depression as the biggest health issue. However, many teachers also noted inadequate access to wellbeing support and professional development. This report offers recommendations about wellbeing supports and strategies, and places emphasis on the importance of school-community approaches to supporting wellbeing.

Connected Self has provided educator wellbeing support through our Embedded Schools model since 2020. In collaboration with the school, a dedicated sessional spot is made available weekly for school staff to access. This session uses expressive techniques and counselling approaches, providing opportunities for staff to:

  • Unpack challenging student behaviours/needs.
  • Engage with a safe space for debrief and wellbeing support.
  • Reflect on Trauma Responsive Practice principles.

Embedded teacher sessions are offered as an opt-in slot, with staff booking in as needed. All sessions are confidential.

How to access our Art & Expressive Therapy Services

To speak to someone at Connected Self please phone 08 8232 2438 or email at expressivetherapy@connectedself.com.au.

Polyvagal Practices

Polyvagal practices aim to enhance physiological regulation, restore a sense of safety, and promote engagement through autonomic nervous system regulation.

This enhances social and emotional learning, including recognising and regulating emotions (from a physiological lens) and developing empathy for others.

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PACE

Developed as part of attachment-focused family therapy, PACE is a trauma-informed approach aiming to create safe, trusting, emotionally connected relationships with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma or attachment difficulties. PACE stands for:

Playfulness

  • Approaching with an open, ready, calm, relaxed and engaged attitude.
  • Not taking yourself/situations too seriously.
  • Diffusing difficult/tense situations.

Acceptance

  • Unconditionally accepting the current state/mood/behaviour.
  • Accepting that there are things unseen that lie below behaviour.
  • Acceptance supports feeling secure, safe and loved

Curiosity

  • Understanding the child gently and without judgement.
  • Supporting child to bring awareness to their inner life.
  • Wondering statements.

Empathy

  • A sense of compassion and understanding for young person’s feelings and thoughts.

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Expression of experience when words are not enough

Art Therapy does not rely on verbal language. It is a therapeutic approach that provides many different mediums for communication. It is a useful mechanism when clients may not yet have the language to express their experiences.

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Contain difficult feelings and build tolerance

Art making holds or contains the difficult feelings allowing them to be felt and experienced gradually – building tolerance to discomfort.

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