Creative and therapeutic group workshops in Lismore and the Northern Rivers region

For staff development, team building, community groups, children and young people

 

Group art-workshops offer a space for connection, new skills, fun, personal growth and mutual support between group members.

As someone who loves participating in creative and experiential therapeutic groups herself, and who knows first hand the benefits and growth made possible through natural group connections, Pip is a confident and experienced group facilitator with both children and adults.

Types of activities and workshops we can explore

  • Clay-play for mindful self care

    A 90 minute group activity to introduce participants to the healing potential of this sensory material. It has been successfully facilitated with groups of community sector workers, and early childhood educators. In the education setting this workshop is held in conjunction with a presentation on Clay Field Therapy with children.

  • The Parent Trail

    A transformative 10 week art therapy program designed for parents who are living with or have experienced mental health challenges. The program culminates with a pop-up art exhibition and celebration of works created during the course. A pilot group delivered in Lismore through a collaboration between 2 community service organisations was a remarkable success.

  • Community Events

    Activities ranging from tile making and clay sculpture to banners and mural painting - have been popular at events across the Northern Rivers. These events include NAIDOC days, The Kinship Festival, and Lismore’s Opening Our Heart flood anniversary.

  • Kid’s and Youth groups

    Heart’s Light offers therapeutic group workshops for children and young people, focusing on clay, collage or mandalas. Co-created programs tailored to your students or client group.

Book a group workshop

Kind Words

  • " The best part was the sharing of experiences, and watching emotions become art."

  • "It was really good being with a group of like minded women, doing art and being creative."

  • "I really liked the open-ness and non-judgement within the Parent trail group.

  • "The Parent Trail process of focusing on different topics each week that built of each other, was excellent."

  • New List Item

  • New List Item

  • New List Item

  • New List Item

Group workshops are perfect for:

 

  • Team Building and Staff Development:- workshops to support mental and emotional wellbeing for client-facing and frontline service personnel.

  • Parents - parents who are facing challenges with their own or their children’s mental health and wellbeing.

  • Children - Half day school holiday or weekend workshops for small groups of children or teens can be tailored to the group’s interests or specific needs.

  • Schools - In-school group workshops can be arranged.

  • Community Events - Pip has delivered numerous clay and other craft activities for children and adults at events in the Northern Rivers.

 
 

My approach

My approach to working with groups of clients is to hold space for the collective and encourage group connections or positive team mentality, while also staying attuned to the individuality and needs of each participant.

Most groups will start and end in a circle, with an introduction or check-in, and a closing word or check-out, appropriate to the topic or activity of the day. This has the effect of book-ending the time and space we share together,

With ongoing groups such as the 10 week Parent Trail program, it is amazing how quickly deep connections can develop. For this reason ongoing groups are closed to new participants after the 2nd week.

Therapeutic groups for children will follow a similar pattern, with an opening and closing circle to create group awareness, and to set an agreement for safety and respect for each other, during the time we are together.

Whether the children are creating a group project or individual art works, each children’s workshop will have a clear and specific theme, and while individual creativity is absolutely encouraged, explicit directions or demonstrations of processes will also be given, so to avoid uncertainty or confusion. Children’s activities will be geared to the developmental level of group participants.

Book your workshop

Contact Pip to organise your community / group workshop in the Lismore and wider Northern Rivers region.

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes, if invited, Heart’s Light can arrange to deliver individual or group sessions on site.

  • This will depend on several factors including group size and time taken.

    Time for small groups - 4 to 8 people, is charged at the hourly rate of $200/hour for face to face service delivery, plus $150/ hour for preparation and travel, plus the costs of any materials needed, e.g. clay or art materials.

    /2.5-3 hour clay workshop of staff development for 6-8 people, depending on travel time may cost $800-$1000.