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Frequently Asked Questions

All questions are welcome! Please use the message box below to get in touch.

Everyone’s art therapy journey looks a little different. In a 60-minute session, you can expect to spend time being creative in a way that is meaningful to you.


This might include, for example:

  • Talking and creating together — or simply creating without much talking
  • Creating with a focus on the process, and noticing how using different materials might make you feel
  • Developing creative skills for self-expression (to express yourself, for yourself, or to use creativity as a tool for communicating and connecting with other people)
  • Creating with a focus on discovery, reflection, or making meaning of your experiences
  • Developing your creative agency or an artist identity
  • Practising mindful creativity, emotional or energy regulation, or being present in the moment
  • And many other possibilities


To find out more about how individual art therapy can be tailored to you, please get in touch.

  • Art Therapy fosters resilience and coping skills
  • Helps emotional, energy, and mood regulation
  • Provides a non-verbal tool for communication and exploration
  • Facilitates connection through art
  • Invites identity exploration and authentic self-expression
  • Builds self-understanding and self-compassion
  • Encourages creative confidence and artistic identity
  • Promotes gentle movement
  • Supports meaningful and lifelong creativity
  • Can be used as a tool for distraction or minimisation of physical symptoms or pain

A neurodiversity affirming approach benefits and supports all people. Neurodiversity includes those who are neurotypical, neurodivergent, those with diagnoses, and those without.


Neurodiversity refers to the natural diversity of human brains and the many different ways people think, learn, communicate, process information, and engage with the world.


In practice, a neurodiversity-affirming approach focuses on understanding each person's unique experiences, strengths, values, goals, and support needs. Rather than trying to change who someone is, it aims to provide support that helps them thrive in ways that are meaningful to them.


Neurodiversity-affirming support in art therapy might include creating an environment that works with your sensory preferences, adapting communication or the way a session is structured to suit you, or suggesting materials that support your comfort and creative style. This can be done collaboratively - with you being supported to ask for what you need - or through a shared journey of figuring out what works best for you.

Materials that may be available:

  • Coloured pencils or watercolour pencils
  • Watercolour and acrylic paints and brushes
  • Artist markers, gel pens, poscas, paint pens
  • Paint sticks
  • Embroidery threads, felt, and colourful and patterned fabric
  • Different sized and coloured papers
  • Collage paper, scissors, washi tape (patterned sticky tape) and glue sticks
  • Small to medium sized canvases
  • Oil pastels
  • Other materials if you request them and I am able to source them


You are welcome to bring your own journal for your art or writing.


You are welcome to bring materials from home. Spill-able materials such as ink and oil paints may not be suitable for this space.

Yes! You can take home anything you make in Art Therapy. You are welcome to leave works in progress with the Art Therapist.


If you would like the Art Therapist to store your artwork, it will be kept for up to 7 years. Your artwork will be kept in a private and secure location.

In-person Art Therapy is offered at Closer Care and can be paid for with an NDIS package or privately (self-funded). 


Click here to read the official statement from the Australian, New Zealand and Creative Arts Therapies Association on using NDIS funding for Art Therapy and prescribed fee.

If you have a complaint regarding Ellie Bortz's service please raise your concern directly with Ellie. If the issue cannot be resolved directly, please find further support on the Health Care Complaints Commission website   .

Ellie Bortz acknowledges the Gadigal and Wallumedegal peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which she works.