Our Director - Monica Finch (M. Art Therapy, AThR)
Director, Art Therapist & Supervisor
Monica has been involved in the healing field for over 20 years, helping people become more aware of the mind-body-spirit connection and to live a more authentic life.
Monica is inspired by our ability to survive adversities, and that given a safe space and nurturing connection the human spirit has the capacity to repair and recover.
Monica's niche area of work is with trauma and vulnerability. She can hold space for unbearable suffering and difficult emotions. On the flip side of this, Monica has a great capacity to work with people on their soul journey with a spiritual and mystical focus.
Seeing a lack of specialist Creative Art Therapy services in the Greater Ballarat region, Monica established Ballarat Art Therapies in 2015. Passionate about building a service that meets the needs of clients, Monica shares her knowledge with other professionals by providing Professional Supervision, presenting at Conferences and contributing to publications.
Qualifications: Masters of Art Therapy (Latrobe University), Cert in Clinical Supervision, Advanced Diploma Transpersonal Art Psychotherapy (Phoenix Institute), Diploma Clay Field Therapy (Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy), Foundation of Interactive Drawing Therapy, Diploma Visual Arts, Diploma Community Health, Alcohol & Other Drugs and Mental Health and Family Violence, Cert in Expressive Therapies and Sand Play (Children & Adolescents), Cert in Small Figure Therapy (Attachment and Systemic Systems), Cert in Expressive Art Therapies for Trauma, Accelerated Trauma Recovery Mandala Workshops, Bruce Perry Workshops, Circle of Security, Cert Compassionate Inquiry with Gabor Mate
Additional: Professional Registered Art Therapist and Counsellor (ANZACATA and ACA), Approved Supervisor (ANZACATA)
Tegan Neville (M. Therapeutic Arts Practice, AThR)
Art Therapist & Operations Manager
Tegan has been helping, guide and inspire others to explore within to heal and grow using intuitive art and art therapy for the past 10 years.
Tegan is passionate about the healing and growth that can occur through inner work and connection to true self, using art as the primary tool helping to connect with your innate wisdom and light.
Tegan is experienced in delivering a range of art therapy activities to both individuals and groups including guided drawing, music play and other creative art therapy sessions and has delivered workshops in the community including schools and the Mother and Family Unit (BHS).
Qualifications: Masters of Therapeutic Arts Practice (MIECAT), Diploma of Counselling (Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors), Cert in Initiatic Art Therapy (Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy), Cert Sensorimotor Art Therapy: Work At The Clay Field (Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy), Certificate of Completion: DRUMBEAT Facilitator Training (Holyoake), LEGO® Based Therapy Certified Facilitator, Bachelor Arts - International Studies (University of Ballarat), Bachelor Business (University of Ballarat)
Additional: Professional Registered Art Therapist and Counsellor (ANZACATA), Level 2 Registered Counsellor (ACA)
Lily Fraser (M. Art Therapy, AThR)
Art Therapist
Lily has been working and training in the arts and healing for over 17 years, supporting people to tune into and express their inner world and unique creativity.
Lily became aware many years ago of the power of art to heal. She has had the privilege of working with many people using arts-based therapies in groups and one to one. Lily is passionate about finding ways to work with clients that meet their needs. She is regularly astounded by the inherent intelligence of clients to figure out what they need to heal.
Lily is interested in nature based therapies and finds nature to be a great resource for clients healing journey. Lily also has undertaken training in Supervision, Gestalt Counselling and Narrative Therapy.
Qualifications: Masters of Creative and Expressive Arts Therapy (MIECAT), Advanced Diploma Transpersonal Counselling (Phoenix Institute), Level 1, Narrative Therapy (Dulwich Centre), Responding Narratively to Sexual Abuse Survivors (Dulwich Centre), Relational Gestalt Counselling (Gestalt Training Australia), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Otago Polytechnic School of Art), Dadirri – the Ancient Art of Deep Listening Supporting Culturally Sensitive Practice (We Al-Li), Understanding and Working with Anxiety (Gestalt Training Australia).
Additional: Professional Registered Art Therapist and Counsellor (ANZACATA)
Nellie Goldflam (M. Teaching, B. Communications, Cert. Initiatic Art Therapy)
Art Therapist
Nellie creates safe spaces for young people to explore and trust themselves. Nellie has facilitated mindfulness groups with adults, using art practices for relaxation and self-expression. Knowing the transformation that can be gained from inner work, Nellie is inspired to offer space for others to strengthen their courage, connection to self and inner grounding.
Nellie has worked in many related fields over the past twenty years and has spent the last decade teaching. Nellie's passion is the wellbeing of young people.
Qualifications: Cert in Initiatic Art Therapy and Clay Field Therapy (Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy), Master of Teaching - Promoting Student Wellbeing (Melbourne University), Bachelor of Communications - Creative Writing (University of Canberra), CASEA Train the Trainer (Royal Children’s Hospital), Calm Kids Mindfulness (Corporate Zen), Young People & Trauma (Berry Street), Respectful Relationships Training (Vic Education), School Wide Positive Behaviour Training (Vic Education), Program Achieve Wellbeing Initiative (Merri Community Health), Protecting and Enriching Student Wellbeing (Professor Michael Bernard), Autism Support (Dianne Ryan, Regional Autism Coach), International English Teacher License (Australasian Training Academy), Certificate in Dynamic Web Design (Swinburne University of Technology Tafe)