MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS ON OUR TEAM! Welcome Tanya, Christina and Noha!
Tanya Cepeda
Tanya is an ANZACATA registered Art Therapist and a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance. She received her Master of Arts in Counselling and Art Therapy from Adler University (Chicago, IL, USA).
Tanya has worked in both clinical and community settings. Her experience is vast, from leading groups and individual sessions at an inpatient substance use centre to co-leading therapeutic art groups at an ACCO for women and children with a past and/or present experience of family violence. She has solid knowledge of co-occurring mental health presentations and ways of navigating them, especially as they relate to stemming from a traumatic event(s).
Her practice is person-centred. She listens and supports with compassion and empathy. She creates a space that allows for shifts in perspectives and gently challenges thought processes and personal beliefs. She will help you experience all your thoughts, feelings, and sensations in a safe and productive way in order to foster positive change and growth.
She is interested in how mental health affects physical health and believes in the healing power of breath and movement, which she sometimes likes to incorporate into her sessions. She is an advocate for holistic, client-led therapy and is excited to show everyone how creativity can help promote more positive relationships with oneself and with others, increase confidence and self-esteem, and allow for a safe space for reflection.
Christina Tester
Christina is a practicing artist and creative art therapist currently living in Narrm, Melbourne. Christina has a Masters in Creative Arts Therapy from MIECAT (Melbourne Institute of Experiential Creative Art Therapy). Christina has worked with Headspace and the Royal Children’s hospital supporting young people and families move through challenging life situations. She has also worked in the community, running groups and providing one-on-one sessions for young people through to adults.
In a session with Christina, you will be warmly supported in using different art materials and creative processes to explore and express emotions and experiences that may be difficult to put into words. During a session Christina uses play, curiosity and attention to the process of art making and creative processes.
Christina works from a person-centred trauma informed lens and enjoys supporting people in developing and strengthening self-awareness, resilience and self-compassion, which can lead to making healthier choices, feeling a greater sense of purpose and having more meaningful relationships.
Noha O Aly
“Noha holds the belief that all individuals, regardless of their personal history, circumstances, or physical challenges, have the inherent capacity to thrive and develop. Creative, authentic, Compassionate, and Committed: she is a bilingual (Arabic/English) Master-level Art Therapist and Visual Artist, dedicated to improving the well-being of individuals and communities through her passion for art therapy.
Additionally, Noha has diverse art therapy experiences working with populations from clinical and community settings ranging from adolescence to adults. In particular, she has worked with clinical inpatients with eating disorders, borderline personality, and other psychological diagnoses; as well as clients with challenges or diagnoses relating to substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, schizophrenia and bipolar in community settings. Noha has extensive experience in both individual and group-based art therapy.
Over the years, Noha continued to pursue her artistic expression. As a professionally trained visual artist and designer, she has launched several solo art exhibitions in Australia and abroad. Noha is committed to social, cultural and community causes, and has dedicated her skills and time through volunteering in various art, education and health disciplines. Her professional training and lived experience, coupled with her compassionate, innovative, and authentic personal attributes, place her in a unique position to help individuals to improve their well-being through art therapy.
Noha has a Master of Art Therapy degree from La Trobe University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Alexandria University. Noha is a professional member of ANZACATA.”
Kerrie Neilen
Kerrie is a qualified ANZACATA Art Therapist, a Master of Art Therapy (La Trobe University), and Fine Artist (RMIT). Kerrie has supported children, adolescents, and adults through art therapy within community and clinical settings, including the Children’s Cancer Centre at the Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital and Mind Australia.
Kerrie strives to provide a warm, non-judgmental, and creative space for clients to explore, reflect, play, and connect to themselves and others.
Kerrie’s current area of focus is providing art therapy for children and adolescents needing support who present or identify as neurodivergent. She is also interested in working with children, adolescents, and adults who are dealing with challenges related to mental health, trauma, grief, and illness. Kerrie endeavours to support her client’s individual needs through tailored directive and non-directive sessions and has found the creative process to be a powerful tool to make sense of the world and find personal meaning and equilibrium.
Working through a person-centred and trauma informed lens, Kerrie is passionate about establishing an open and honest relationship while working alongside her clients to navigate their experiences and enhance their wellbeing. Kerrie provides lived experience and in-depth knowledge of different medium’s technical and therapeutic potential and finds great joy in sharing the creative process.
Stephanie Gray
Stephanie is a qualified ANZACATA Art Therapist, having obtained a Master of Art Therapy from La Trobe University. Stephanie is an experienced English teacher (Monash) and a self-taught artist. Stephanie has worked with children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly in community and clinical settings.
Stephanie is passionate about providing care and support in a person-centred way. Stephanie conducted placements at Baringa Aged Acute Psychiatry and at Thomas Embling Hospital, and she has worked with a range of clients with different presentations, including people on the Autism spectrum, people with ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Stephanie enjoys working with clients of all ages, gender presentations and sexual orientation, being a proud member of the LBTQIA+ community and with her own mental health lived experience.
Stephanie also works with the elderly and is committed to improving the wellbeing of our aged community through tailored arts-based workshops. The work carried out in these workshops aim to provide meaningful engagement thus avoiding social isolation. Stephanie likes to work with clients to achieve their personal goals and empower those who suffer dementia.
Stephanie works in a client-led manner, with a focus on trauma-informed care and relational aesthetics. Stephanie tailors’ sessions to the individual’s needs, offering both directive and non-directive sessions, with a range of materials and activities. Stephanie believes art making, experimentation and play are valuable tools for improving mental health and achieving personal goals. She strongly believes that art can be used to communicate ideas that may be difficult to express verbally and can help people engage in self-reflection and improved daily living.
Stephanie Lim
Stephanie is a qualified ANZACATA Art Therapist. She has completed a Master of Art Therapy (La Trobe University), Diploma of Visual Arts (RMIT) and Bachelor of Science Majoring in Neuroscience (Melbourne University).
Stephanie has practiced Art Therapy with children, adolescents, and adults experiencing various circumstances including, depression, anxiety, PTSD, body dysmorphia, physical disability, neurodegenerative conditions, homelessness, cancer and end-of-life. Stephanie developed a passion for working with kids through volunteering with children with disabilities, and volunteering as a Play Therapist. She aims to help children explore and discover themselves in a gentle and fun manner. Most of Stephanie’s work has been with LGBTQI+ young people and at-risk youth with various mental health presentations. She has also conducted Telehealth programs, family violence groups, and support groups for mothers and their children.
Stephanie practices with a client-led approach and tailors’ sessions to help clients reach their personal goals. With her background in play therapy and art teaching, Stephanie incorporates play into her practice and can also help clients improve their art skills when requested. Her approach is best described as gentle and adaptable, incorporating various art mediums such as origami, knitting, painting, collage, and elements from nature. Stephanie practices with the belief that Art Therapy has the power to heal and can guide people on their own life journey.
Bridget Harvey
Bridget is our regional Art Therapist based in Ballarat.
Bridget is an ANZACATA registered Art Therapist and level 2 ACA Counsellor. She completed her Masters of Art Therapy and Counselling training at La Trobe University.
Bridget is a practising professional artist with a history in the design and animation industries, working and exhibiting in Australia, London and Italy. She also has extensive experience in childcare and art teaching/tutoring.
Bridget completed her clinical placement at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, working with patients experiencing cancer and their families. Additionally, Bridget has worked with clients with a range of conditions including Anxiety, Depression, Alzheimer’s, Stroke recovery, intellectual and physical disability and neurodegenerative conditions, Complex Trauma and PTSD, including work with Holocaust survivors at Emmy Monash Aged Care. A proud member of the community herself, Bridget also works with LGBTQI+ clients and is dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive space for all.
Bridget is passionate about post-traumatic growth, neuroplastic change and development, and the benefit of creating opportunities for exploration, play and self-expression in a safe, supportive and attuned environment. Bridget practices in an integrative, person-centred, client-lead and trauma-informed way; tailoring sessions to the needs, goals and interests of the client. Bridget brings her professional and lived experience with disability, trauma and mental health to her work, while recognising that each individual is unique and the expert in their own life. Bridget values diversity and is open to working with a range of clients.
Paul Eves
Paul Eves is a practicing artist, and a qualified visual arts teacher and youth worker. Paul is our skilled-based work-shops manager and facilitator. He has exhibited nationally and internationally. He completed a Master of Teaching Practice at RMIT University and prior to that a Master of Fine Art at RMIT University in 2017. In 2014, Eves completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours from the Queensland College of Art. Where in 2013 he was a finalist in the Gas and Survey CO at QCA and was awarded the Iain Turnbull Bursary Prize for Printmaking.
As part of his art and teaching practice, Paul has developed highly tuned skills in a range of techniques, processes and methods of making art. Paul designs his programs to encourage his students/client’s to engage directly with art making and to experiment, take risks and explore a sense of play within a supportive environment. He believes that art is for everyone and that through the creative process, insight and skills are developed that can be transferred into every day life!
Paul believes that Art is a universal language that crosses borders, cultures and beliefs. The process of making art and gives people the opportunity to express their thoughts and ideas. Art as an experience is important because it helps students crystallize their thoughts and ideas about who they are and the world around them.