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<h4>The arts are central!</h4>
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<p>From early childhood through to today, the arts have been pivotal to my way of navigating the world. Creating is how I make sense of things. I love to stitch, draw, paint, dance, write poetry and visit art galleries. I relax by playing or listening to music. I have been exceptionally fortunate to work in the arts field throughout my working career – in design studios, art galleries, education, community and therapy settings. </p>
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<h4>Qualifications</h4>
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<p>My post-graduate degrees in the field of therapeutic arts come from <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The MIECAT Institute Inc (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.miecat.edu.au" target="_blank">The MIECAT Institute Inc</a>, Melbourne. I have a Post Graduate Diploma, a Master of Arts by Supervision.My Masters qualification enables me to work as a registered Professional Creative Arts Therapist (AThR) with <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://www.anzacata.org" target="_blank">ANZACATA</a>, which is the peak professional association for Creative Arts Therapies in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. My Masters thesis, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="A Book to Hold Our Stories (opens in a new tab)" href="https://miecat.edu.au/facility-items/book-hold-stories/" target="_blank">A Book to Hold Our Stories</a>, inquired into 'what it is like to live in a different culture', as experienced by three women. This area of interest was later expanded on in my artwork, </p>
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<p>I am now working on a Professional Doctorate.  My doctoral research focuses on the therapeutic arts in living with post operative chronic or on-going pain.</p>
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<h4>Location, location</h4>
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<p>Originally from Dunedin, I have now returned home after many years away. The majority of my time away was spent in Melbourne, Australia. I maintain a connection with Australia, as a sessional academic at The MIECAT Institute and offer professional supervision to Australian based arts therapists.</p>
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<p>In the interests of my on-going learning, I am also a member of <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS) (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.nzps.org.nz" target="_blank">The New Zealand Pain Society (NZPS)</a> and the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="International Association for the Study of Pain (IAPS) (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.iasp-pain.org" target="_blank">International Association for the Study of Pain (IAPS)</a>. </p>
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<p>As a clinical supervisor, I offer an arts-based supervision model. My approach to research also arts-based and is qualitative. My <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.holdingspacestudio.co.nz/?page_id=12" target="_blank">personal arts practice</a> is what I call mixed media with a therapeutic intention.  </p>
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<p>I love to nurture creativity and utilise the arts as a way to navigate what we meet in the world –&nbsp;be that personally, professionally or as a community. </p>
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