Welcome

Friday 19th - Sunday 21st April

12:30pm - 4:00pm

This retreat welcomes registered expressive arts therapists and students, creating an inclusive space for the creative, experiential, and expressive arts therapy community. Our goals include fostering connections within the community, engaging in creative therapeutic activities, and deepening our relationships with ourselves. The retreat provides an opportunity to alleviate the therapeutic burden associated with working with clients from trauma backgrounds, allowing participants to relax, rejuvenate, and reclaim their creativity in the natural surroundings of the beautiful Yarun or Bribie Island. Attendees can earn 16 hours of CPD for their annual registration in a enjoyable and relaxing manner, or simply use the time to explore personal rejuvenation through downtime.

In today's world, the term "self-care" is ubiquitous, but its importance cannot be overstated. Often, the organizations where we work do not adequately support our psychosocial health on a daily basis, necessitating dedicated time for self-care. This weekend is dedicated to reconnecting with creativity to build resilience and discover new ways to care for oneself. The activities shared during the retreat are designed to be easily incorporated into one's professional life, benefitting both clients and colleagues.

Self-care encompasses not only individual practices but also being part of a supportive team and fostering a sense of belonging and connection. This retreat provides an opportunity for expressive/creative arts therapists to come together, share experiences, and support each other. While working in multi-disciplinary teams has its advantages, this retreat aims to create a space where therapists can truly feel like they are with 'their people.' Previous retreats have resulted in therapists forming lasting friendships, supervision groups, and ongoing supportive relationships.

This year, we are taking a more relaxed approach with longer workshops and fewer of them, allowing all participants (up to 25) to spend meaningful time together. The retreat utilizes the natural environment, and weather permitting, activities may extend outdoors and onto the beach.

Recognizing the increasing importance of somatic awareness in our work, the retreat focuses on incorporating movement and a connection to our bodies. As professionals, the longer we work in the field, the more the emotional weight of our work accumulates. The retreat provides an opportunity for deep dives to release this emotional burden and emphasizes the vital role of somatic sensitivity in maintaining our health and well-being.

Past retreats have resulted in lasting benefits, including the formation of friendships, supervision groups, and additional events where therapists can reconnect. Therapists from the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane, and surrounding areas have found the retreat to be a valuable platform for connecting and building relationships.

Inclusivity is the cornerstone of this retreat experience, acknowledging and celebrating the diverse tapestry of expressive arts therapists and students. We are committed to creating a welcoming space that values and respects individuals from all backgrounds, ensuring that everyone can authentically participate and contribute their unique strengths and perspectives. Our dedication to inclusivity permeates every aspect of the retreat, from the design of activities accommodating different preferences to fostering open dialogue that recognizes the validity of each participant's journey. We aim to cultivate an environment where diverse voices are not only heard but actively embraced, fostering a sense of belonging and collective creativity that thrives on the richness of our differences.

We hope you thoroughly enjoy the retreat, and please remember that participation is voluntary at any point during the weekend. We acknowledge and embrace the diverse preferences and energies of our participants, whether introverted or extroverted, energetic or reserved. Your comfort and participation are highly valued.

Facilitators:

Amanada Hall, Tanya Burkhardt, Manaali Manoharan, Lalita Laksmi, Taraka Hart - All are accredited Expressive/Creative Arts Therapists registered with ANZACATA, with experience in Mental Health, CALD and community services, supervision and training.

PRACTICAL DETAILS:

Your ticket includes;

Shared accommodation with about five others in a cabin. There are fans in the cabins.

Vegetarian meals, and teas/coffee/snacks. We cater for those with special dietary considerations.

Workshops and materials

Wi-Fi

* you can bring or rent a tent

* you can hire bedding

* you can bring your camper or van!

*let us know

BRING:

Sheets, pillow, blanket, earplugs, eye mask etc.

Sun screen, towel, swimmers, hat, insect repellent.

Yoga mat, comfortable loose clothing

** If you require transport we will create a Facebook Page for the retreat participants where you can reach out about sharing rides etc.

PROGRAM

*there may be a few minor changes to the program

Friday

12:30pm meet at Brennan Park for picnic lunch/swim

2:00pm Retreat team go to Retreat Centre and set up to welcome participants

3:00pm Participants come to Retreat Centre and settle in

4:00pm Welcome, Acknowledgement of Country, Introduction to facilitators

4:15pm Moving to connect - Lalita

4:45pm Handmake your journal - Taraka

6:30pm Dinner

7:30pm Beach time

Saturday

7:30am Movement session - Lalita (30 minutes)

8am Breakfast

9:30am - 12:30pm Workshop 1

12:30pm Lunch

2pm-5pm Workshop 2

6pm Dinner

7:00pm - 8:30pm evening creativity and sharing talents (improv, music, dance, play, performance, magic etc).

Sunday

7:00am Movement Session - Lalita (30 minutes)

7:30am Breakfast

9am - 11:30am Workshop 1

11:30am pack up

12:30pm Lunch

1:30-3:30pm Final workshop Taraka

Feedback, hopes for the future

Home!

Workshops:

Hand Make Your Journal

Facilitator:Taraka Hart

Aims and Objectives:

- to acknowledge the work therapists do and the wonder and impacts

- to connect to what is important to bring into the retreat and what to leave behind

- to create an artwork to express anticipation, expectation and what gifts you bring to retreat

- to create a handmade journal to record the retreat experience

Coastal Heathland Bathing on Yarun Land

Facilitator: Tanya Elizabeth (Skinner Street Studio)

Aims and Objectives:

To reflect on what it means to spend time in nature
To consider the particular land we are spending time on and how we can honour the traditional owners
To observe somatic, felt sense and all sensory experiences
To share experiences through creative modalities

Dance/Movement Facilitation

Facilitator: Lalita Lakshmi

Aims and Objectives:

· To explore body awareness, activation and connection using Dance Movement Therapy methods

· To engage in gentle, fun and playful activities to enhance our creative, expressive selves

*Early morning offerings of 30 minute DMT warm up activities to help start our day with body awareness, activation and connection.

In Conversation With Nature: Poetic story telling

Facilitator: Amanda Hall (Folded Heart Studio)

Aims and Objectives:

Explore surroundings, converse with an other than human natural object or being.
Capture the discussion that forms
Use expressive script-based writing to embrace the togetherness you experience
Develop connection with self and surrounds and develop ways to express

Mindful Mandalas: ephemeral nature mandalas.

Facilitator:Manaali Manoharam

Aims and Objectives:

Self- care, playfulness/creativity, well-being, connection and joy.

- To facilitate a sense of joyful play and exploration by connecting with nature and its elements

• To facilitate reconnection to a person’s sense of agency and their ‘wise self/sage’(as a means to access inner wisdom and growth as creative arts therapists)

• To provide participants an opportunity to reflect and create their vision for the year.