Hi, I’m Bridie.
I came to art therapy after about 25 years building a career in curatorship, museum work and art writing. Armed with a Bachelor of Art History and Theory (Honours) and Master of Art Administration, I worked in small private galleries, for picture framers and an auction house in Sydney, as well as larger public galleries and museums in Canberra. I experienced my greatest achievement in this field while working at the Australian War Memorial. For 10 years, I worked closely with the military community, service personnel and their families. I loved the opportunity to connect with others through personal stories, and my role often involved accidental counselling. Many post-service recovery journeys incorporated art therapy, a profession that perfectly combines my passion for creativity and desire to help others.
Following a Certificate course with CECAT, I completed the Master of Art Therapy at the University of Western Sydney and gained professional registration with ANZACATA in 2021. Since then, I have worked with children, teens and adults at Ink Brush Art Therapy, including community service provision for Carers ACT and Beryl Women Inc. I've also worked at the adult mental health facility Hyson Green, Calvary Bruce Private Hospital, offering inpatient services for individuals and groups. Here, I designed and implemented the facility's inaugural art therapy program and successfully integrated art therapy into the Allied Health inpatient group program. I currently provide art therapy services for Canberra Detox and Rehab Service, and I'm an approved counsellor with Victims Support Scheme, NSW Government.
Bridie helped me get in touch with my creative soul and through that we worked on my problems together. She was always encouraging and inspired me to keep growing as a person and artist. I can't recommend Bridie highly enough and wish we had more time together. Michelle, 2023
My professional practice is informed by Creative Arts Therapists Cathy Malchiodi, Judith A. Rubin, Catherine Hyland Moon, and Sandie (Chun-Shan) Yi. Other influences include humanistic psychology and Carl Rogers’ person-centred approach, Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing, Pat Ogden and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Bessel van der Kolk and holistic frameworks for trauma informed practices, Dr Candace Pert and research into neural plasticity, Carl Jung and mindfulness practices, and the existential psychotherapy of Irvin Yalom.
When I’m not supporting others’ creativity, I’m spending time with family and friends. I enjoy swimming and yoga, playing card and board games, pottering in my garden, exploring new landscapes through nature, the visual and performing arts, as well as listening to music and reading. I am curious about the human condition and love conversations that wrestle with lived complexities and intersectionality. I firmly believe in each person's potential for change and growth, knowing that suffering and pain are just as much part of the human condition as joy and hope.
'Transformative' is the best word to describe my journey with Bridie. Her unique combination of skills and experience in art therapy has enabled me to access that part of myself that was needed to begin to heal. I highly recommend Bridie - her trauma-informed approach and kindness will become a pivotal part of your healing journey. Marian, 2024
My interest in chronic physical conditions draws on lived experience, informing a therapeutic approach that is holistic, person-centred, strengths-based and committed to promoting autonomy, diversity and connection. My personal creative practice is driven by a curiosity about materiality and the power of visual expression to articulate our inner most selves. I’m often inspired by small acts of kindness from strangers, ordinary people doing extraordinary things and the natural world.