Emily Steele
Cottles Bridge,VIC
Summary
Experienced art therapy professional with strong skills in therapeutic techniques and creative expression. Known for effective team collaboration and achieving impactful results. Reliable, adaptable, and focused on client well-being and emotional growth. Strong communication, empathy, and problem-solving abilities.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Art Therapist & Counsellor
Private Practice
11.2024 - Current
- Provide individual & group art therapy & counselling sessions to young people & adults in a consulting space & various community settings
- Individual sessions catered to individual presentations, including experiences of trauma, anxiety, depression, complex mental health presentations, family violence, neurodiversity, suicidal ideation
- Support individuals using client-centred, trauma-informed, strength-based approachUtilise relevant counselling and art therapy frameworks & theories to support session design
- Groups sessions offered for therapists experiencing vicarious trauma & burnout
- Maintain detailed client notes & safe keeping of client artworks
Community Group Art Facilitator
Private Practice
01.2020 - 10.2024
- Promote, design & implement 15 group art workshops in community spaces, aiming to support learning new skills, nature connection, social connection & resilience
- Workshops have focused on basketweaving, loom weaving & natural dyeing practices
Student Art Therapist
Hope Springs
09.2024 - 12.2024
- Community Mental Health Service
- Support adult clients with experiences of developmental trauma & living with mental illness, social isolation, chronic health conditions, drug & alcohol challenges, & challenging social circumstances
- Facilitate four group sessions per week
- Contribute to the creation of a welcoming, empowering, safe, inclusive community space
- Design & implement theme-based group art therapy program aiming to promote connection, individual expression & creativity, & build regulation & emotional coping skills
- Facilitate Open Studio group Art Therapy to assist individuals with creative exploration & social connection
- Facilitate Women’s Group & co-facilitate Community Drop-in Space
- Therapeutic interventions underpinned by trauma-informed principles, Polyvagal Theory, Somatic Experiencing, the Expressive Therapies Continuum & the art therapy evidence-base
- Maintain therapeutic notes & safe-keeping of client artworks
Student Art Therapist (Final Project)
Berry Street
07.2024 - 09.2024
- Design, implement & evaluate a group art therapy program aiming to promote regulation & a sense of belonging, & encourage self-expression for parents of young people using violence in the home
- Underpinned by the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, Expressive Therapy Continuum & Somatic Experiencing theoretical approaches
- Adapted session design to account for group dynamics
- Maintained detailed session notes & safekeeping of client artworks
- Collected feedback via Visual Analogue Scales, surveys & informal discussion
- Program was highly acceptable to & enjoyable for participants; effective in providing emotional regulation, safety, flow & relaxation; & inspired participants to gain managerial approval to continue weaving as part of a workplace wellbeing initiative
Student Art Therapist (Placement)
Berry Street
02.2024 - 09.2024
- Support & engage adolescent & young adult clients who were using violent behaviours in the home
- All had experienced developmental trauma, many had diagnoses of mental illness & neurodiversity, some were victim-survivors of sexual assault
- Conduct individual art therapy from a trauma-informed, person-centred perspective to promote a trusted, stable therapeutic relationship, emotional regulation, self-identity & self-confidence
- Co-facilitate Open Studio Art Therapy to assist individuals with creative exploration & social connection
- Therapeutic interventions underpinned by appropriate art therapy & psychotherapy theoretical orientations
- Manage & order art materials
- Case management tasks including referrals & liaison with other services
- Maintain casenotes & safekeeping of client artworks
Art Therapist
Elm Street Mission
11.2023 - 01.2024
- Community Mental Health service
- Support adult clients with experiences of developmental trauma and living with mental illness, social isolation, chronic health conditions, drug & alcohol challenges, & challenging social circumstances
- Some had experienced institutional care in childhood and adolescence, some had experienced childhood sexual abuse
- Contribute to the creation of a welcoming, empowering, safe, inclusive community space
- Utilise a Community Development Framework to design a new art therapy program
- Plan, implement & evaluate a Group Art Therapy program based on exploration of materials & processes
- Plan, implement & evaluate a Group Art Therapy program based on making objects that participants nominated (e.g
- Candles)
- Activate the space through thoughtful planning & consideration of lighting, table arrangements, the display of materials, & the provision of snacks
- Exhibit artworks made in groups within the community space
- Maintain ongoing communication with stakeholders to shape the program & gather feedback throughout
- Link participants to other activities within the local community
Research & Policy Officer
No to Violence
01.2021 - 12.2023
- Contribute to the design & development of project proposals that relate to understanding & ending men’s family violence
- Work closely with the Membership to communicate NTV’s policy, research & advocacy activities to members, & provide timely & informative information & support in response to member enquiries
- Collaborate with internal & external stakeholders to deliver policy & research initiatives in partnership with external organisations & the community
- Contribute to NTV policy, research & advocacy agenda in line with NTV strategic plan & working with colleagues across the organization to achieve strategic objectives
- Research, analysis, writing & preparing position papers, reports & submissions as relevant
- Provide support & advice to the CEO, General Manager – Policy & Advocacy & other members of the NTV leadership team
- Contribute to the development of NTVs position on policy matters relating to preventing men’s family violence through effective use of data, research & evidence-based practice
- Contribute to the development & maintenance of strong, constructive working relationships with key internal & external stakeholders, including sector-based partner agencies, research institutions, & relevant government departments to enable a multi-disciplinary & cross-sector approach to policy development & advocacy activities
Community Engagement & Partnerships Manager
Oxford University
01.2016 - 12.2021
Principal Researcher & Manager
Victorian Department of Education
01.2015 - 12.2015
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Child Health & Wellbeing Program
University of Melbourne
01.2013 - 12.2014
Private Evaluation Consultant
Private Evaluation Consultant
01.2012 - 12.2013
Postdoctoral Research Fellow & Deputy Director, Life Course & Intergenerational Health Research
University of Adelaide
01.2010 - 12.2012
Doctoral Student, Discipline of Public Health
University of Adelaide
01.2005 - 12.2010
Women’s Health Educator
Women’s & Children’s Hospital
01.2003 - 12.2006
Research Assistant, Centre for Allied Health Evidence
University of South Australia
01.2002 - 12.2004
Neurological Physiotherapist
Julia Farr Services
01.1999 - 12.2001
Physiotherapist
Royal Hobart Hospital
01.1998 - 12.1998
Education
Master of Art Therapy -
La Trobe University
Bundoora, VIC01-2024
Doctor of Philosophy - Social Determinants, Women's Health (Epidemiology)
University of Adelaide
Adelaide, SA2010
Master of Public Health -
University of Adelaide
Adelaide, SA2004
Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) -
University of South Australia
Adelaide, SA1997
Skills
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Counselling skills
- Family violence & mental health
- Trauma-informed therapy
- Evidence-based practice
- Client assessment
- Treatment plan development
- Program design
- Client advocacy
- Client records management
- Client advocacy
- Client records management
- Multicultural competence
Certification
- Working With Children Check
- National Police Check
- Mental Health First Aid
- MARAM – Brief & Intermediate training
Affiliations
- ANZACATA (Australian, New Zealand & Asian Creative Art Therapies Association)
- ACA (Australian Counselling Association)
Art Therapy Awards And Contributions
- 2025 - present, Participant, weekly peer supervision & support, facilitated by Art Therapist Roxie Elhert; online
- 2024, Invited Workshop Presenter, La Trobe University Art Therapy Student Skill Share; Workshop entitled ‘Introduction to Weaving’
- 2023-2024, Student Representative, La Trobe University Art Therapy Discipline Committee
- 2023 - present, Art Therapy Research Community Network participant
- 2023, Invited Workshop Presenter, Creative Mental Health Forum; Workshop entitled ‘The Weavers’ Nest: an introduction to basketweaving with foraged fibres as a doorway to nervous system regulation & deep connection
Select Professional Development
- 2024, Cultural Awareness Training: Introduction to working with Aboriginal Peoples & Communities, Victorian Aboriginal Child & Community Agency
- 2024, Integrating Neurodiversity Affirming Practice, ANZACATA
- 2023, Understanding Complex Trauma: Applying art therapy, somatic nervous system principles & support for you as the practitioner, Integrated Trauma Therapy
- 2021, Introduction to Gender & Sexuality Training, Minus 18
Non Art Therapy Publications And Presentations
- Evaluation Report, Rakar-Szabo N, Steele E, Smith A, Pryor A, Regenerate Evaluation: Executive Summary, 2019, https://adventureworks.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Regen%20Eval_Exec%20Summ_FINAL_010319.pdf
- Government Submission, Submission to South Australian Government’s Consultation on Criminalising Coercive Controlling Behaviours, 10/01/21, No to Violence. Fiona Williamson, Charity Wahome, Isobel Montgomery, Emily Steele.
- Academic Journal Article, Steele E, Wong E, Karahalio A, Johnson S, Kremer P, de Silva A, Davie E, Nolan T, Water E, Children’s mental health in the first year of school: The influence of social disadvantage on children’s emotional & behavioural difficulties, Pediatrics, 2015, 167, 442-8
- Invited Speaker Address, Steele E, How can we best support children, to enhance their adult wellbeing?, Victorian Department of Education Guest Presenter series, 09/01/13
- Blog post, Steele E, Noel-Storr A, Turner T, Innovations in evidence synthesis: the invisible healthcare revolution, 2017, https://www.croakey.org/innovations-in-evidence-synthesis-the-invisible-healthcare-revolution/
Current And Upcoming Studies
- Certificate in Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies, Linda Thai, somatic & trauma therapist, 01/01/25 - 04/01/25
- MARAM – Identification & Screening, Safe + Equal, 04/01/25
Timeline
Art Therapist & Counsellor
Private Practice
11.2024 - Current
Student Art Therapist
Hope Springs
09.2024 - 12.2024
Student Art Therapist (Final Project)
Berry Street
07.2024 - 09.2024
Student Art Therapist (Placement)
Berry Street
02.2024 - 09.2024
Art Therapist
Elm Street Mission
11.2023 - 01.2024
Research & Policy Officer
No to Violence
01.2021 - 12.2023
Community Group Art Facilitator
Private Practice
01.2020 - 10.2024
Community Engagement & Partnerships Manager
Oxford University
01.2016 - 12.2021
Principal Researcher & Manager
Victorian Department of Education
01.2015 - 12.2015
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Child Health & Wellbeing Program
University of Melbourne
01.2013 - 12.2014
Private Evaluation Consultant
Private Evaluation Consultant
01.2012 - 12.2013
Postdoctoral Research Fellow & Deputy Director, Life Course & Intergenerational Health Research
University of Adelaide
01.2010 - 12.2012
Doctoral Student, Discipline of Public Health
University of Adelaide
01.2005 - 12.2010
Women’s Health Educator
Women’s & Children’s Hospital
01.2003 - 12.2006
Research Assistant, Centre for Allied Health Evidence
University of South Australia
01.2002 - 12.2004
Neurological Physiotherapist
Julia Farr Services
01.1999 - 12.2001
Physiotherapist
Royal Hobart Hospital
01.1998 - 12.1998
- Working With Children Check
- National Police Check
- Mental Health First Aid
- MARAM – Brief & Intermediate training
Master of Art Therapy -
La Trobe University
Doctor of Philosophy - Social Determinants, Women's Health (Epidemiology)
University of Adelaide
Master of Public Health -
University of Adelaide
Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) -
University of South Australia
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