Janel Gibson
Arts Therapy & Peer Support Work
Janel Gibson (she/her) is an experienced and registered Arts Therapist and Peer Support Worker, having used her skills of listening, intuition and creativity to walk alongside people for several years.
Janel values connection, empathy, and curiosity. Living on Boonwurrong Land, Victoria, she is passionate about creating safe spaces for people, by utilising the creative arts and trauma informed practices. Janel offers Individual and Group Arts Therapy Sessions, online & in-person. She also offers personalised Group Wellbeing Programs such as Celebration of Life Transitions and Team Building.
From a young age, Janel has utilised the creative arts as a way of expression and making meaning. After studying a Bachelor in Performing Arts (Monash), Janel travelled as a stage manager, theatre maker and performer, across Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. She went on to study a Masters of Therapeutic Arts (MIECAT) where she practiced all forms of arts in therapeutic spaces (such as visual arts, performing arts, movement, voice, sound, creative writing etc).
Janel has worked and volunteered in mentoring and facilitation for over 6 years. She has also volunteered as a Pregnancy Support Worker, supporting mothers throughout their pregnancy and post-partum (2020-2022). In 2020 - Present Janel co-designed a Peer Support Program called CHECK-IN, at Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC). Within this role Janel uses her experiences to form mutual connections and self-advocacy.
Janel works with folks to help them discover who they are, and how they wish to be in the world. She loves to share practices so that people feel empowered, confident and safe to continue their life journey.
As an Arts Therapist & Peer Worker, Janel is influenced by creativity and her own lived experience in mental health challenges. Janel is heterosexual. She values authentically welcoming and connecting with people.
Janel companions people of all ages using curiosity, lived experience, diverse art forms, and emergence. She has previously walked alongside women and non-binary folks who have experienced exploitation, trauma, family & domestic violence, mental health challenges, anxiety, depression, self-esteem and life transitions.
Janel's approach is person centred, trauma informed, strengths based and creative. She considers individuals the experts of their lives. Janel upholds curiosity over assumption in conversations.
If you’re curious about Arts Therapy, Janel would love to walk alongside you.
