Ballarat Art Therapies

22/09/2025

26/08/2025

Some students have a messy desk constantly. It's so bad that they can't find their books, homework, planner, notebooks, folders, and even a pencil. Don't flip the desk!

Here are executive functioning tips from a school based OT to help students keep their desk relatively neat so they can find the school supplies they need to learn: https://www.theottoolbox.com/organization-tips-for-students-organize-kids-school-work

14/08/2025

Understanding Projection in Play Therapy — A Jungian Perspective for Kids & Adults 🌟

Projection is a powerful idea from psychoanalytic and Jungian psychology. It means we unconsciously “project” parts of our inner world—like feelings, fears, or traits—onto other people or things without realizing it.

For Kids:
Children are still learning to tell themselves apart from others and to manage big emotions. They might say, “The doll is angry,” when really they’re feeling angry inside but don’t have the words yet. This kind of projection helps keep overwhelming feelings safe.
In play therapy, therapists gently help kids recognize these feelings and understand themselves better.

For Adults:
Adults also project parts of their Shadow—the hidden or rejected sides of themselves—onto others. For example, someone feeling jealousy might accuse others of jealousy. Jung taught that recognizing and accepting our Shadow is key to personal growth and healthier relationships.

Collective Projection:
Groups or communities can also project shared fears or feelings onto others. For example, during uncertain times, a community might unfairly blame or fear a particular group. This collective projection can shape social attitudes and sometimes lead to discrimination or scapegoating.

Why Does Projection Happen?
Projection is a way our mind protects us from feelings that feel too hard to face directly. Becoming aware of projection helps us grow into our whole, true selves, fostering emotional health and better relationships.

Activities to Assist Understanding Projection:

For Kids:
🎭 Emotion Role-Play: Use puppets or dolls to act out different emotions. Ask the child to name the feelings of the characters, then gently explore if those feelings are ones the child might be experiencing.

For Adults:
📝 Reflection Journal: Write about a recent conflict or strong emotional reaction. Identify if you might have projected feelings onto the other person and how acknowledging this changes your view.

By understanding and working with projection, we can build empathy and emotional intelligence.

06/08/2025

I'm super excited to be running small art therapy groups. These two are in person, on a monthly cycle starting in August. You can attend on a casual or committed basis. Places are limited. further information, costs and booking are on the website.

02/08/2025

20/07/2025

We are now taking bookings for our in person, monthly SUPERVISION GROUP. The group is commencing 20th August and you can attend regularly or on a casual basis. This group is for anyone using creative art therapies with clients eg art therapists, counsellors, social workers, play therapist (students of these). Form more information, costs and bookings please visit the website https://ballaratarttherapies.com.au/workshops%2Fgroup-programs
We are taking expressions of interest for a monthly Saturday morning group.

01/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BgeeUC7r3/

30/06/2025

We have some great changes coming in the next few weeks. More announcements coming soon.

28/06/2025

Perfect for ages 7-12

18/06/2025

17/05/2025

https://youtu.be/ySqH_7VVdos?si=qa-F3nR7N_IwR0LI

Your free behavior course: https://nci.university/learn🎬 Exclusive NCI-4 (Grad School) Vault ReleaseThis is Behavioral Magnetics—the hidden force that draws...