What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy offers a creative solution to supporting you on your mental health journey. It is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of communication. Clients who are referred to an art therapist do not need to have experience or skill in art. Art therapy is for those who don’t have the words to engage in a verbal approach to therapy. The process of art therapy is non-confrontational and nonverbal, allowing space for safe exploration and intervention.
There are key differences between art therapy and art class:
-
The art therapy space is facilitated by a qualified and registered art psychotherapist and not an instructor or teacher.
-
Art therapy involves a therapeutic relationship between you and your therapist. This differs from student/teacher relationships.
-
While some session may be held in a studio space, the space remains confidential with an emphasis on safety.
-
Art supplies and tools are accessible for your exploration, with no expectations for the final product to look representational or mean something to anyone else other than yourself.
-
In the art therapy space, there is no right or wrong way to create.
-
The focus is on the creative process.
-
While beautiful designs and sources of inspiration may spring from your creations in the therapy space, the emphasis is on meaningful themes and emotions that you experienced through the process. In the art therapy space, there is lots of room for reflection and meaning making.
About Jess
SPECIAL INTERESTS
-
Psychosis
-
Schizophrenia
-
Trauma
-
BPD
-
Adolescents
-
Grief
-
Anxiety
-
Depression
-
Relationships
-
Functional Recovery
-
LGBTIQA+
Jessica Matotek is an experienced Psychotherapist with over 8 years of working in youth mental health, trauma, and disability services. Jess currently runs her own private practice called Ink and Intuition where she offers 1:1 trauma therapy through art therapy interventions, family therapy and recovery coaching. In addition, Jess runs a variety of mental health educational workshops and art therapy groups at rural schools and family and carer services across NSW.
​
Jess started her career with the headspace Primary Care Program in Penrith, Sydney NSW, where she was the first Art Therapist to be hired into the program. She went on to work in the Functional Recovery Team at headspace Early Psychosis Program across Penrith, Mount Druitt, Parramatta, and Castle Hill sites, supporting young people between 12-25 years of age who are experiencing early signs of psychosis and schizophrenia. Jess supported the development and led a team of Creative Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Vocation and Education Specialists, Peer Support Workers, Psychologists, Social Workers and Psychotherapists during her time working with this team.
Jess was responsible for the development of therapeutic programs, implementation of these programs, research, and outcomes behind the use of creative therapies for those with acute mental health presentations and psychosocial disability.
​
Jess has gained experience and training in the areas of art therapy, narrative therapy, somatic therapy, trauma informed therapies and uses Attachment Theory, Polyvagal Theory, the Neuro-Sequential Model of care and Internal Family Systems approach to inform the services and education that she offers.
​
Jess believes in finding alternative and creative ways to manage mental health that give people space to create meaningful recovery journeys and outcomes.