Overview

As clinicians, we continue to build bridges between clinical intuition, educational practice, and scientific evidence, I’m hopeful that our collective efforts to collaborate as mental health professionals will strengthen the visibility, credibility, and impact of Art Therapy.

Engaging clinicians, educators, researchers, and other key stakeholders is essential to advancing the research-to-practice pipeline and demonstrating the profound value of creative arts therapies in diverse contexts.

Event Details: This presentation, with visuals, infographics, and downloadable templates, will serve to translate knowledge in a way that is practical and engaging without diluting the integrity and necessary scope of practice of Art Therapy.

This presentation links art therapy with accessible neuroscience to support theory, sharpen clinical decision-making, and strengthen interdisciplinary research conversations. Through a translational science framework, it introduces core concepts from cognitive science and neurobiology and demonstrates how they relate to mechanisms of change in art therapy: symbolic meaning-making, sensory–motor regulation, and relational attunement. With clinical examples and relevant theory and research, the session offers a practical roadmap clinicians and educators can apply, and researchers can build upon.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this event, participants should be able to:

• We will discuss art therapy as a profession as well as an intervention. Diving into the theory and practical creative/expressive skills that can be applied in your clinical work.
• Identify key neuroscience concepts relevant to art therapy theory and practice.
• Describe how cognitive neuroscience and neurobiology models align with mechanisms of change in art therapy.
• Explore practical exercises, techniques, and their benefits across different ages and mental health presentations.

Presenter(s)

Ms. Jessica Matotek

About the presenter(s)

Jess Matotek is an ANZACATA-registered art psychotherapist with over 10 years’ experience working across community and private practice settings. She runs a private practice called Ink and Intuition in NSW and has worked extensively within the NDIS, supporting children, adolescents and adults with complex mental health needs, trauma histories and neurodivergent profiles. Jess has partnered with and delivered services alongside organisations including the Family and Carer Mental Health Program, headspace Early Psychosis, and KidsXpress. She is passionate about bridging creative therapies with contemporary neuroscience and has worked alongside psychiatrists using neurofeedback- an area she sees as a promising frontier for mapping the efficacy and mechanisms of change in art therapy.

Notes

Target Audience

This activity is aimed at psychologists and health professionals.

Please note:

• This is a Member Groups event. All communication will be sent to the registrants’ registered email address. This includes event reminders with details (such as the venue details) and any pre-event or post-event resources, if provided by the facilitators.
• A post-event email will be sent within two weeks of the event’s completion to each registrant’s registered email address. This email will include the CPD certificate, and any additional resources shared during the session.
• Canapés will be served throughout the event, and a bar will be available for guests to purchase drinks.

Venue:

The event will be held at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, conveniently located in the heart of Sydney CBD.

Public Transport (recommended) - The venue is easily accessible via public transport:

• Town Hall Station – approx. 5-minute walk. From Town Hall, head east toward Castlereagh Street and walk two blocks to reach the hotel.
• Museum Station – approx. 6–7-minute walk

Parking - Please note the hotel does not offer on-site parking. Nearby options include:

Piccadilly Secure Parking (133 Castlereagh St) – 1–2 minute walk
Additional secure parking is available nearby on Castlereagh and Pitt Streets
We recommend pre-booking parking where possible, as spaces in the CBD can be limited

Duration of Access

This event will not be recorded. 

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.