I am a Master's-qualified and ANZACATA-registered Creative Arts Therapist, researcher, arts practitioner and facilitator based in Perth. Creativity has always been central to my. Through my arts practice, community arts facilitation and therapeutic work, I have witnessed the powerful ways creative processes can support self-expression, connection, resilience and personal transformation. Working with people across diverse settings has reinforced my belief that creativity is not reserved for artists, but is an innate human capacity that can support healing, meaning-making and growth. Before training as a Creative Arts Therapist, I had a long career as a creative director and designer, both as an employee and as a small-business owner – experiencing all the highs and lows of this journey. This experience also provided me with an understanding of the pressures of perfectionism, achievement, identity, and self-worth – but also, working in the world of marketing and advertising gave me a unique understanding of the powerful ways in which media and cultural narratives can influence how we see ourselves … and our bodies. These interests later informed my Master's arts-based research study and thesis, exploring self-perception and body image through charcoal life-drawing with a group of non-artist women. I believe that every person carries an innate capacity for healing, growth and transformation. Even in the aftermath of trauma, loss, adversity or significant life transitions, there remains the potential for new understanding, integration and transformation. My own journey has taught me that the stories we carry about ourselves are powerful. As a child migrant from Poland, I experienced the challenges of finding my place in a new culture, learning a new language and navigating questions of identity and belonging. Later, through decades of creative practice, community arts facilitation and work within the creative industries, I became increasingly interested in how people come to see themselves, how those perceptions are shaped by relationships and culture, and how creativity can help us reconnect with more authentic ways of being. This curiosity ultimately led me to Creative Arts Therapy. What continues to inspire me about this work is its ability to engage not only the cognitive mind – but the whole, embodied person. Creative processes, materials and modalities, can offer pathways into emotional expression, embodied awareness and experiences that are often difficult to access through words alone. They can help us approach difficult experiences safely, build capacity to stay with what feels challenging, and create opportunities for reflection, integration, acceptance and change. I am particularly interested in supporting people navigating trauma, life transitions, burnout, identity and self-esteem challenges, body image concerns and questions of meaning and purpose. My practice is informed by person-centred, trauma-informed and embodied approaches, including contemporary understandings of nervous system regulation, somatic awareness and post-traumatic growth. Above all, I strive to offer a therapeutic space where people feel seen, heard and accepted as they are. A space where curiosity can replace judgement, where creativity can become a resource for healing, and where new possibilities for growth and connection can emerge.