Helping people of different abilities flourish in life through Creativity & Art
"Disability is not a brave struggle or 'courage in the face of adversity.'
Disability is an art. It's an ingenious way to live."
- Neil Marcus
Creative Ways of Living
Using a strength-based approach to help people find their own path to a creative and connected life
Live Softly Creative Studio works with neuro-diverse people, from late-teens to adults who have different abilities, helping people to express themselves creatively to be seen and heard in their own unique way. Our strengths-based approach is accessible and tailored for people who may not feel understood or catered for by the mainstream & find it difficult to find or access creativity and workshops that meets their unique needs.
Video: Elise works with the wonderful team at Studio A Sydney
The Live Softly offering includes Creative Mentoring, Art Classes that promote Wellbeing, Self-expression and Self regulation and Trauma-Informed Psycho-Social Support work. We can assist clients in finding and accessing community social and recreational activities eg art courses and galleries or nature based mindfulness and movement.
At Live Softly we work creatively with our clients, responding to each client as an individual with unique needs and design workshops and activities to suit their personality and goals. We help our clients to find their strengths and ways of connecting with themselves and others to create a life of meaning, creativity and joy.
We recognise that quality of life includes relationships, emotional, physical and material well being, self determination and personal development and support our clients in accessing a full and meaningful life.
In the first session the client is helped to identify their unique goals and a person-centred approach is used to help the person achieve the quality of life they aspire to.
Our dedicated Art Space in Chatswood is a safe space for creativity and self expression. It has been specifically designed for clients with sensory sensitivity, including low lighting, chill-out spaces, soft furnishings and lots of inspiring art and craft materials.
At Live Softly we work alongside our clients to help them to find their own meaning and increase their sense of self empowerment, agency and quality of life.
Art for Wellbeing
At our Live Softly Art Studio we support clients in expressing themselves and communicating their experiences using art and creativity. We may explore painting, clay, fabric art, sewing, book making or sensory art making as forms of expression depending on the clients preferences.
Our specifically designed art studio is a safe space for expression and creativity.
Art making can help a client move towards their goals and achieve a more fulfilling quality of life. Bringing colour, hope and inspiration in to everyday life.
Creative Mentoring
Nurturing skill development and supporting holistic well being. Mentoring provides specialised support for participants with an interest in creativity and developing skills to work towards a career or project in the creative fields. We assist you in identifying your goals and support you in accessing learning and developing the skills needed for success. This may include portfolio creation, setting up a creative business, learning computer aided drawing or developing your art skills.
Innovative Support Work
Experienced in both mental health and trauma-informed care, we offer psycho-social support work with heart. We work closely with our clients to identify their unique goals and needs and take incremental steps tailored to the client's needs. We can support and guide clients to access community and recreational activities - opening up opportunities and broadening horizons for clients. Experience may include nature based art experiences, visiting galleries, learning meditation and mindfulness, attending art classes, cooking and life skills.
How can Creativity benefit someone with a disability?
We work with a range of clients with disability and tailor our approach differently for each client. The basis of all of our work is the client-practicioner relationship, centered in deep respect and empathy for the individual.
We believe a person with a disability is differently-abled and accessing creativity and art can help to connect a person with their inner resources; enabling them to create meaning and engage in life in a new way.
We see disabilities as a creative opportunities, with the client we explore this and identify skills. Often clients will have heightened abilities and sensitivities in areas that may not have been previously recognised or positively acknowledged.
Greater self awareness helps the client to understand their own needs and how to best meet these. Our Creative Mentoring Sessions seek to empower and awaken self esteem in a person, acknowledging that they know best what they need.
Video: Elise works with the wonderful team at Studio A Sydney
We support people living with:
-
Intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial disability
-
Autism
-
Eating Disorders
-
Body image issues
-
PTSD
-
Sensory Processing Disorder
-
ADHD
-
Anxiety
-
Depression
-
Major life changes
What changes can I expect?
-
Improved creativity, self-esteem
-
Increased sense of self empowerment
-
Increased sense of self care & self awareness
-
Reduced stress & anxiety using art and mindfulness
-
Reduce depression and fatigue
-
Improved interpersonal skills
-
Enhanced mind-body connection
-
Development of life-long coping skills
-
Identification of personal resources and needs
-
Increased sense of meaning and purpose
Left to Right: Live Softly works with Studio A Sydney, a wonderful program supporting artists with disability
Yoga Therapy Workshops & Art Therapy workshops for STEM students in China
What if I am not 'Creative'?
If you are interested in our sessions you may be relieved to know it is not about being an artist, no art experience or 'talent' is necessary. We aim to make creativity accessible to all, afterall we were all born creative!
How can creativity help me?
Expressing yourself through art can have many beneficial therapeutic effects, especially for people who may feel disempowered or disconnected.
In our sessions we use use creative tools to enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals. We help you to find where you are creative and to explore and express this. This can promote a sense of agency, fun, pride and self expression. These are creative skills and tools that you can then access outside of sessions to promote wellbeing.
Sessions are client led and art is introduced gently as the client feels ready. We may use drawing, painting, clay, collage or many other mediums as agreed in the session. Some clients have created their own illustrated books, started their own Etsy stores, found jobs in the creative industry or held their own exhibitions. But there are no expectations here, this is art and creativity tailored to you and for your own purpose and expression.
Enquire Today
Click on the 'Contact' section of this website to make an enquiry or email elise@livesoftly.co to discuss your individual needs
Our mentoring and support services are available in Sydney or via Zoom
Our Art Studio is located in Chatswood.
_______
Top Left to Right: Live Softly works with the seniors at Your Side, Art Therapy at Wesley Mission, Zoom sessions for remote clients, Art Therapy outdoors in nature, Creative industry workshops for young adults, facilitating a craft incubator in China, ,and organising public art therapy events at the MCA and Butterfly Foundation, Sydney.