Where Creativity Meets Wellbeing: An Arts-Based Approach to Reflection

Session Outline:

Participants are invited to engage in a creative process that can be applied across their work and daily life, with space to slow down, notice, and reflect together. The focus of the session is on recognising positivity, which may show up as moments, passions, or meaningful experiences. We explore how this awareness can support reflection, decision-making, and wellbeing, particularly in demanding and relational work.

Through body scans, guided prompts, and gentle creative activities, participants are supported to notice where positivity is felt in the body and how it shows up for them. They are invited to give these experiences form using shapes, images, or words, helping turn internal experience into something that can be reflected on and talked about.

As part of the session, Duan will briefly share observations from his own lived experience and professional journey. This includes insights drawn from his work in creative psychoeducation, alcohol and other drug education, and programs alongside the Aboriginal community.

The concept of intersubjective responding (ISR) is introduced as a reflective practice, noticing internal responses as they arise, rather than missing or minimising important moments. Participants explore how this awareness can be used in personal reflection, supervision, and broader conversations.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the session, participants will have:

• Experienced a simple creative process that supports reflection and awareness

• Practised noticing positivity in everyday moments, and professional contexts

• Explored how experiences are felt in the body through gentle body awareness

• Used creative expression to give form to internal experience

• Reflected on how awareness of internal responses can support conversations, supervision, and ongoing practice

About the facilitator:

Duan Stevenson, 3rd Mind

Duan Stevenson is a psychoeducation and creative arts facilitator. His recent work includes delivering programs to, and working alongside, Aboriginal women, and partnering with organisations to support Aboriginal youth to build awareness around alcohol and other drugs. Duan’s approach uses creative education to support understanding, reflection, and informed choice around alcohol, and other drug use. Drawing on lived experience, and both evidence-based, and evidence-informed practice, he creates learning spaces that are culturally respectful, relationally safe, and focused on awareness, responsibility, and sustainable change.