WHY CLAY?
Tactile engagement with clay offers a nonverbal pathway for nervous system regulation and processing unresolved emotions held in the body. In somatic clay therapy, we are not only shaping the clay but also discovering new ways of being. This embodied approach can be particularly helpful for those who feel stuck in old patterns and have found that talking and thinking about their difficulties haven't been enough to create change.
ABOUT
Before becoming a somatic clay therapist, I spent 20 years in academia, first completing a PhD in Psychology and then working as a university lecturer. I began working with clay as a hobby, taking pottery classes in my spare time. I enjoyed stepping out of my head and discovering a more embodied way of being.
Over time, my experience with clay evolved into a calling to combine pottery with psychology and share its therapeutic benefits with others. I opened Wheelfulness™ Studio in 2019, offering mindfulness-based pottery wheel classes. A few years later, I completed specialised training in Clay Field® Therapy.
Through my training in Clay Field® Therapy, I became increasingly interested in the expressive nature of freeform claywork and its symbolic language. This led me to pursue further training in symbol-based psychotherapy and eventually to develop Clayfulness™, a psychodynamic approach that integrates somatic claywork with narrative symbolwork.
THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES
Clay Field
Clay Field therapy is a sensorimotor approach in which you work with a large amount of clay contained in a wooden box. You are encouraged to follow the impulses of your hands and attune to the sensory experience. At the end of the session, there is a brief verbal reflection to help integrate your experience.
Clayfulness
Clayfulness is a soma-symbolic approach that combines embodied claywork with psychodynamic reflection. You are guided through a step-by-step process that includes somatic clay meditation, intuitive sculpting, and symbolic exploration of the emerging clay form.
Wheelfulness
Wheelfulness is a mindfulness-based practice at the pottery wheel. Through gentle somatic cues, you are encouraged to develop an embodied sense of centering and stillness in motion. The focus is on attuning to your movements and sensations rather than creating a finished piece of pottery.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Each session follows your chosen therapeutic approach and is shaped by your individual needs. As a trauma-informed therapist, I take care to provide a supportive environment throughout the process.
Before booking your first session, we'll have a brief conversation by email or phone about what you're hoping to gain from therapy and which approach might be most suitable for you.
In-Person & Online
In-person sessions are held at my private studio in Matraville, Sydney, where all materials are provided. Online sessions are also available, with guidance on sourcing suitable clay and preparing your workspace.
Individual Session (60 minutes) — A$150