Creative Arts Therapy is a profession that uses active engagement in a variety of creative arts processes to address mental, emotional, developmental, and behavioural problems, disorders, or issues. HICAT practitioners develop a relationship with their client through the artistic process and use that experience as a powerful force for change. (Mind Body Education)

Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapy is a multimodal approach to therapy. It can include art, drawing and painting, craft making, drama, music, movement or dance, sound therapy, storytelling, writing or journaling, sculpture and sand play, and any other activity which engages the person’s creativity. A person is not required to have any artistic activity ability to use or benefit from Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapy.

Creative Therapies have been formalised and grouped into various disciplined; these include:

• Art Therapy
• Music Therapy
• Dance/Movement Therapy
• Drama Therapy/ Psychodrama
• Poetry Therapy
• Play therapy- including sand-play therapy

These disciplines have been practice in psychotherapy and counselling with individuals of all ages for more than 70 years.

Art, music, dance, drama, and poetry therapies are commonly referred to as “creative arts therapies. They utilised self-expression in treatment are also sometimes called “expressive arts therapies”.

The term “integrative” is used in reference to expressive arts therapies when various arts are decisively used in combination with treatment.

Creative arts and play therapies like art, music, dance, and movement therapies should not be mislabeled as “nonverbal” therapies (as opposed to “talk therapy’). Creative arts and play therapies can be both verbal and nonverbal. Verbal communication of thoughts and feelings and the sharing of memories and experiences are all important parts of the therapy in most situations.

Most therapists who use these methods do so within a psychotherapy setting. This may include psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, cognitive therapy, developmental therapy, systems therapy, narrative style therapies, solution-focused therapy, and others. There are also creative interventions that specifically focus on verbal communication and self-expression as part of treatment, such as drama therapy, creative writing, poetry therapy, and bibliotherapy. In all cases, these approaches stimulate a whole-brain response to help clients of all ages experience reparation, recovery, and well-being.

Bunbury Counselling has four trained Creative Therapists on their team available to work individually or in group sessions.  Creative Therapies are available to support most other services including Counselling, Mental Health, Perinatal Wellbeing, NDIS and other services. 

Contact us to book your session!

Become a Creative Therapist

Bunbury Counselling partners with Willow Training College to train other providers in Creative Therapies. Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapists are in high demand in the corporate arena where they can contribute to positive work environments, less workplace stress and reduced workplace bullying. HICAT also helps to stimulate creativity and awaken leadership skills. This improves productivity and profitability making it a popular team building program for smart corporate managers.

Willow Training College Graduates receive the recognised certification: Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapist and can use the letters:  Mbe.HICATprac. Graduates are also invited to join the International Institute of Complementary Therapists, the Holistic Healers Association International, the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine.

Visit HICAT – WILLOW TRAINING COLLEGE for more information about becoming a Creative Therapist with Willow Training College.

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