A 6-week course for adoptees and mothers
When:
4 hours per week over 6 weeks. Class time includes a 30-minute break. Please BYO lunch.
For adoptees: 8 June to 13 July 2023 from 10am to 2pm
For mothers: 5 October to 9 November 2023 from 10am to 2pm
Where:
MacLaren Hall, 45 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn (the site is shared with Erasmus Primary School).
About this course:
Art therapy uses creativity and imagery as a vehicle for self-expression and self-care. It is especially effective in working with people or communities who have experienced trauma, and the creative process offers profound access to feelings and memories that cannot always be expressed in words.
In this 6-week course—expertly guided by art therapist, meditation teacher, and adoptee Michele Hutchins—participants will explore different techniques including movement, music, two-dimensional visual arts, sculpture and three-dimensional visual arts, meditative and visualization exercises, and group work.
Each session will include time for participants to share personal insights with each other if they wish. The program has been designed to provide an uplifting and fun experience whilst also allowing for opportunities to delve deep. Guided mindfulness and meditative practices will also be used to ground participants during the process.
No artistic skill, ability or experience is required. In fact, having little or no artistic training can be an advantage as it frees you from rules and expectations about how artwork should be created. In Art Therapy there is no right or wrong way to make art, and the focus is not on the output.
Previous course feedback:
“Fantastic. Thank you, Michele. You are incredible. I feel like I have done more self healing in 6 sessions than I have in 10 years.”
“You laugh, you cry, you feel free, you feel safe and all the while being gently cared for and guided by the wonderful and experienced Michele.”
“Very worthwhile. You will be amazed. Just do it.”
“As an adoptee who has done more than their fair share of self-help courses and therapy over the years, I’ve never done anything else like this. Well worth the time investment.”
About Michele:
Michele Hutchins is an adopted person and art therapist who combines her training in Transpersonal Art Therapy, Arts Psychotherapy and Therapeutic Arts Practice with two decades of mindfulness and meditation practices. Informed by her own experience as an adoptee, Michele is passionate about delivering programs to target the complex needs of people affected by adoption. Over the past 15 years, Michele has conducted workshops for primary school teachers, therapists, social workers, and children in foster care, among others. In addition, she is a former grief counsellor and facilitator of the VANISH adoptee support group (2009-2012).
Sign up here!
To register your interest for the adoptees’ course, please fill out this form.
To register your interest for the mothers’ course, please fill out this form.
For any other enquiries, please contact us at info@vanish.org.au
Interested in more workshops?
Writing as Therapy with Dr Sian Prior – a 4-week course for adoptees and mothers
Common Threads: A Textile Workshop with Nicole Kemp – a one day workshop for adoptees