ABOUT US
Jacqui Medina
Art Therapist & Owner
Bachelor of Business
Graduate Diploma of Education
Advanced Diploma of Transpersonal Art Therapy
As an Art Therapist and Teacher, my goal is to find a connection with my clients so they can discover and unlock their full human potential.
I was born an artist, always busy with my hands wanting to create new things with whatever material was available. As a result, I am well known for my innovative art directives.
At Freestyle Arts we are often using everyday objects and nature to create art, from different kinds of pasta to stamp a patterned landscape in clay to painting with flower petals.
For me, Art Therapy has proved to be an invaluable tool for processing difficult life events such as changing careers, ending romantic relationships, managing healthy habits, and losing a loved one.
I have literally painted my way out of personal depressive episodes using art to express my deepest emotions when there were no words. The process of making art is cathartic allowing the mind to focus and quieten by pushing out all other thoughts; it is almost meditative.
Working as a schoolteacher I witnessed a dire need for Art Therapy within our community.
Students were increasingly suffering from anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses and I felt, as their teacher, I was just adding to their overall stress levels by handing out assessments and jamming each lesson with the required curriculum content instead of helping them.
Gaining my Advanced Diploma of Transpersonal Art Therapy at Ikon Institute, I worked as an Art Therapist within a primary school setting where the impact of Art Therapy on students dealing with bullying, low self-esteem, and explosive classroom behaviour was clear.
In 2020 I began Freestyle Arts. Providing Art Therapy and Social Art classes to both adults and children with a focus on providing inclusive art experiences for those with special needs, homeschooling families and community members. Freestyle Arts provides a safe, caring, inclusive space to learn, enjoy art, improve social skills and build self-confidence or work through internal conflicts, grief, anxiety, overwhelm or other mental and physical illness.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Art As Therapy
Our philosophy at Freestyle Arts is to provide people with the freedom to create for the sake of creating, to express themselves without fear of failure and to uncover healing, growth and personal development within and through art to improve their overall mental health and well-being.
OUR STUDIO
Our facilities provide a light-filled, airconditioned and accessible space for our clients to enjoy a range of art activities.
We have wheelchair access, space for up to 16 people, all art equipment, easels, aprons and more.
