Thank you for reaching out. 

 

Thank you for reaching out to Connected Self.

We’ve received your details and someone from our team will be in touch with you shortly.

We understand that taking this step can feel big, and we appreciate you trusting us with your enquiry.

 

What Happens Next

One of our team members will review your information and contact you to discuss next steps. This may include:

  • understanding your needs or referral context

  • discussing how art therapy may support the child or young person

  • confirming availability for sessions at our consulting rooms

If your enquiry is time-sensitive, please don’t hesitate to call us directly.

About Connected Self

Connected Self is a multi-disciplinary team of experienced psychologists, counsellors, occupational therapists, art and expressive therapists, and speech pathologists who specialise in creative and evidence-based interventions for children and young people. We work closely with families, carers and professionals to create safe, supportive spaces for expression, healing and growth, particularly for those who may not engage well with traditional talking therapies.

In the Meantime

If you’d like to learn more, you may find the following helpful:

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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