92 155 950 645 ABN
Sonia's article titled "Confusion and Containment: Art Therapy with an Adolescent Hospitalised with Paediatric Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus" was published in The International Journal of Art Therapy (formerly Inscape), Volume 16, Issue 1 (2011).

Available at:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17454832.2011.570271#preview
Abstract: There is a dearth of information regarding art therapy with people diagnosed with neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (npSLE). Art therapy was an individual component of a broader consultation-liaison treatment intervention of a female adolescent who had ongoing and severe symptoms of refractory npSLE, including confusion, agitation, flat affect, echolalia, psychosis, and Parkinsonian features. She also displayed limited non-verbal and verbal communication, with her presentation differing from week to week and often fluctuating during each art therapy session. Due to the symptom manifestations of npSLE it was necessary for me to help her engage with art therapy. Each session provided freedom for expression in a safe containing space, which assisted her to manage some difficult feelings and for themes to emerge. The article reflects on some of the engagement strategies I adopted, as well as examples of containment and recurring themes. In summary, art therapy assisted to provide a space where engagement and containment were enabled, themes emerged, and a meaningful therapeutic relationship developed.

Publications
Sonia is an internationally published author who has also contributed artworks to a number of publications.
Sonia's practice has been mentioned in the following articles:


"Expressing Hidden Feelings Through Art" - GradLife, page 10, Volume 3, Issue 2, December 2011.

"Another Means of Escaping Troubles" by Amy Rathbone - Inner West Courier, page 55, 29 November 2011.




Sonia has had artworks featured in the following publications:

The Feminist Journal
Health Care and Human Rights - Johannes Wier Foundation (Holland)
Growing Strong - Women's Handbook
Honi Soit - Women's Edition
Altar Magazine (USA)
Queerelle
Honi Soit - Queer Edition
Legal Thesis titled "Is Our Current Juvenile Justice System Successfully
Rehabilitating Young Offenders?

Oak Tree Therapy and Consulting Services
Sonia's article titled "Therapeutic Doll Making in Art Psychotherapy for Complex Trauma" was published in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, Volume 31, Issue 1 (2014).

Available at:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07421656.2014.873689
Abstract: Therapeutic doll making can hold diverse functions for clients in therapy, particularly for those clients who are working through complex trauma histories. Recent literature pertaining to the treatment of complex trauma suggests that talking treatments have their limits; supplementary therapeutic approaches that focus on sensory, physical, somatic, and body-oriented processes may be necessary. These include art therapy and various expressive modalities such as doll making. This article describes a series of six dolls created by a woman diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder resulting from child sexual abuse and family violence. The case illustrates significant therapeutic benefits of doll making in healing from complex trauma.

Booklets

These A5 sized booklets are made in Australia and printed on gloss coated paper.

They include 20 colour examples of therapeutic dolls or sculptural lifelines.

They are available for purchase by emailing or mailing the order form to sonia@oaktreetherapy.com.au

Contact: Sonia's mobile 0419 124 951 & email sonia@oaktreetherapy.com.au
Sonia's article titled "The Use of Sculptural Lifelines in Art Psychotherapy" was published in the Canadian Art Therapy Association Journal (CATAJ), Volume 29, Issue 1 (2016).

Available for FREE at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08322473.2016.1176813

Abstract: The sculptural lifeline is a technique that can be used in art psychotherapy. A sculptural lifeline may be useful in someone's therapeutic journey and can be of significant value for people accessing therapeutic services. This article explains the sculptural lifeline technique and uses examples to demonstrate some of the diverse functions and meanings sculptural lifelines hold. In the examples selected, people perceived increased freedom in the three-dimensional construction of a lifeline, as compared to working only two-dimensionally. They found the experience of making a sculptural lifeline to be a less threatening activity than drawing or painting their lifelines. This was partially due to feelings of internal pressure and judgement regarding artistic abilities, as well as the freedom they found in using tangible objects to symbolize their life experiences. They also found the representations on their sculptural lifelines to truly embody their experiences, something that they each felt could not be accomplished through choosing images and words for a collage. Their representations and symbols on their sculptural lifelines acted as “bookmarks” for topics to consider at appropriate junctures in therapy.