Hi! I am Alana (she/her). I am a Registered Art Therapist, Registered Clinical Counsellor, Supervisor, certified Forest Therapy Guide, therapy dog handler, and the director of "Finding Wellbeing Art Therapy & Counselling", a Registered NDIS Provider, operating out of our Yellow Gum Art Therapy Studio.

ANZACATA (Professional Level), PACFA (Reg. Clinical 30669)

Leader Group Member of College of Creative and Experiential Therapies (CCET)

Why I do what I do

My passion for this therapy work comes from my social justice values and seeing firsthand how people can experience post-traumatic growth, heal from impacts of stigma and cope better with mental health challenges and disability when they receive the right therapuetic support which is non-judgemental, compassionate, relational, adapted to individual needs and evidence-based.

Informed by close family ties to disability, lived experience of neurodivergence, a lifelong connection to the arts and a career well over a decade in the disability and mental health sector. I am committed to creating an inclusive, safe space for all which fosters creativity, connection, while actively challenging stigma, oppression, and inequality, ensuring that everyone’s unique experiences are honored.

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How I support

My creative therapeutic approach is grounded in humanistic and person-centered counselling and psychotherapy, incorporating evidence-based strategies from psychological approaches. I help individuals navigate challenges, make sense of their experiences, understand themselves better, realise new goals and build capacities that supports good mental health. I also work alongside Evie, a certified therapy dog, who provides comfort, support and often laughter in our therapy space.

Who I work with

I work with individuals, both children and adults, recovering from trauma and mental health challenges, those with disabilities and chronic illnesses, and people navigating life changes or impacted by grief, loss and stigma. I also have an interest in supporting those experiencing climate grief/eco-distress, and concern for global events, and I have completed additional training with Psychology for a Safe Climate. My approach is neuro-affirming, sex-positive, and LGBTQIA+ affirming. I welcome individuals from all walks of life, embracing all gender identities, sexual orientations, faiths, races, and cultural backgrounds.

Experience and Credentials

Education

• Current part-time student, Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced) – Edith Cowan University

• Master of Art Therapy – La Trobe University, completed 2018

• Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), with a minor in Visual Arts – Australian Catholic University, completed 2015

  
  

Registrations & Professional Credentials

• Clinical PACFA Member (Reg. Clinical 30669), since 2024

• Registered Clinical Counsellor – PACFA College of Counselling, since 2024

• Member of the PACFA College of Creative and Experiential Therapies (CCET), since 2024

• Registered NDIS Provider – Art Therapy, since 2019

• Registered Art Therapist (AThR) – Professional Member of ANZACATA, since 2018

  
  

Professional Roles & Leadership

• PACFA Leadership Group Member – College of Creative and Experiential Therapies (CCET), 2024–present

• Founder and Studio Director – Yellow Gum Art Therapy Studio, opened January 2022

• Founder and Director – Finding Wellbeing Art Therapy & Counselling, established May 2019

  
  

Further Certifications, Training & Professional Development

• ANZACATA Arts-Based Supervision Skills Training, completed 2024

• Professional development with Psychology for a Safe Climate, completed 2024

• Certified Forest Therapy Guide – International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance, since 2023

• Certified Therapy Dog Handler – Therapy Animals Australia, since 2023

• Additional continuing professional development and learning completed in areas of:

  • Supporting parent and adolescent relationships

  • Preventing and responding to child meltdowns

  • Supporting clients experiencing suicidality

  • Trauma-informed art therapy

  • Working with vulnerable children and families

  • Nature-based art therapy and ecotherapies

  • Neurodivergence

  • LGBTQIA+ rights and affirming practice

  • Internal Family Systems-informed techniques

Past Work Experience

Prior to becoming an Art Therapist, I worked extensively across disability, youth, and community mental health services. Beginning as a disability support worker in 2012, I later transitioned to supporting children and adolescents impacted by trauma before working as a Mental Health Practitioner with Mind Australia, supporting NDIS participants with psychosocial disabilities in Supported Independent Living.

My Master of Art Therapy training also included clinical placements at The Alfred Hospital's Psychiatric Inpatient Unit and Mind Australia's Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC) service. In 2019, I established Finding Wellbeing Art Therapy & Counselling, where I continue to provide therapy while leading our growing Art Therapist & Creative Counsellor team.

Evie, the therapy dog

Evie (she/her) works with Alana at Yellow Gum Studio. She is a medium sized (adult knee height) mini groodle born in 2021. Her mum was half golden retriever and half mini poodle and her dad was a mini poodle making her an F1B Groodle. Her fur is a lovely redish brown and non-shedding.

Evie is a fast learner and loves to perform some tricks. She also loves pats and likes to be closeby to people. She enjoys sitting up on her chair to watch people make art or having a nap.

Evie has been trained by Therapy Animals Australia extensively to be safe for working with all kinds of people of all ages. It is important that clients still listen to Alana, her handler, on how to approach Evie to help her ongoing training as a therapy dog.