Play Therapy, Art Therapy

Child, Youth and Families

Links to Art Therapy current courses:

Mary Brownlow is coordinator for the Art Therapy Centre and a child counsellor/therapist with thirteen years experience working with children and families through community agencies, the Public Health System and private practice.

Mary sees individuals dealing with change and loss, family relationship issues or trauma. She has a particular interest in parent child attachments and health recovery. She currently works part-time for Skylight, Centre for Change Loss and Grief, Newtown and for Johnsonville Terrace Centre Counselling Service, Johnsonville. She occasionally tutors adult art classes at Inverlochy Art School, Wellington.

Mary is a kiwi by choice, immigrating to Wellington from the US in 1991. She has postgraduate clinical training in Art Therapy from the US and specialist professional training in Play Therapy and Interactive Drawing Therapy. She is a member of the American Art Therapy Association and a pursuant applicant of NZAC registration.

Art Therapy Centre

Art Therapy Centre at HOC is a unique, purpose built facility designed to serve the use of arts for healing and growth. By using art mediums to explore body, emotions, mind and spirit the personality and soul find expression and understanding. Creativity becomes a path for healing trauma, addictions, stress related injury and illness. Workshops and courses can be tailored to meet the needs of adults/groups.

The Art Therapy Centre is developing art therapy and play therapy services for children.

What is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy helps children help themselves. Art and play are familiar, voluntary, pleasurable activities that engage the whole child, increasing opportunities for creative change.

After an interview session where a developmental history is gathered and to prepare carer and child, a special playroom is provided for the child to play in the presence of a play therapist. In principle, the child leads the way; the therapist assists the child to understand their experience and feel accepted as they are; and then the child is encouraged to take responsibility for resolving internal conflicts through play. This in turn, frees the child to live more fully outside the playroom. A specialised playroom is being assembled to provide Play Therapy for children.

Child Art Therapy and Play Therapy are proven, effective methods. Art and Play Therapy aim:

To give individuals the means to express and resolve conflicts;

To gain relief from tension and symptoms relating to depression, anxiety or alienation;

To develop a positive self image;

Help the child take responsibility for managing difficulties in constructive ways;

Work directly with the child's needs and level of development;

Aid our understanding of the child's experience and provide a lasting index of change.

Who benefits?

Art Therapy Children and youth aged 1-18 for whom there is concern about mental, emotional, physical or spiritual well being and is dealing with events, transitions, identity or developmental challenges such as: