Tree of Strengths: Helen uses the symbolism of a tree to help individuals identify and express their personal strengths and resilience.
Helen Moon uses creativity in her Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) sessions to help people explore their unmet needs while learning how to replace challenging behaviours with healthier coping strategies. PBS helps individuals who struggle with things like schooling, communication, or socialising, by teaching them ways to manage their feelings, express their needs and replace difficult behaviours with more effective ones.
“I love to incorporate art into my sessions, particularly for individuals who are non-verbal or struggle to articulate their feelings. I believe that art provides a powerful and safe way for these individuals to communicate their unmet needs and emotions, ” Helen said.
Helen experienced the power of creativity while working as a Special Education Assistant in the UK and WA. She saw how children processed complex emotions while feeling safe when making art. A few years later in her career she studied art psychotherapy and offers creative interventions artmaking to help people with emotional and behavioural challenges.
“Artmaking allows people to express feelings such as anger, frustration, sadness, and joy as they work through rehabilitation and set new personal goals, coming to terms with losses and gains.”
Helen combines artmaking with Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) to help individuals explore unmet needs and develop a plan towards positive behaviours. Image supplied from Helen Moon.
Helen has over a decade of experience working in areas like dementia care, disability services, and counselling. She uses her experience to help people communicate better and improve relationships. She finds that creativity is also helpful for people who are Deafblind, as it gives them a way to express themselves.
“I provide another avenue for expression and communication and it’s a lovely way for people to be able to express how they’re feeling. It’s also cathartic.”
Helen takes a strength based approach to her therapy and works closely with other therapists like Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists to make sure all therapies work together to help people.
Art activity called Finding My Superhero helps individuals identify their strengths to promote more positive behaviours.
“Other therapies such as OT and Speech Pathology go hand in hand with PBS, you know, with a lot of the time with the functional skills and the emotional regulation and things like that. I work closely with other therapists to be able to really understand what their goals are when they’re working with a person.”
Her goal is to help people express their needs, build trust, and reduce negative behaviours like anxiety or aggression.
Drawing can help individuals to work through life priorities, complex emotions and unmet needs.
“We’re working on the same NDIS goals, but from different angles, and that’s what I love about working with speechies and OTs. We come from completely different perspectives and support the whole person.” Helen said.
About PBS at SensesWA
SensesWA’s Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approach focuses on understanding and addressing challenging behaviours by identifying their underlying causes. Through a person-centred approach, PBS helps individuals, families, and carers develop tailored strategies to improve communication, build skills, and enhance quality of life.
Helen is welcoming new customers across the South West, including Bunbury, Busselton, and Margaret River. If you would like to book in with Helen or learn more about our PBS program, contact us today on 1300 111 881 or visit https://www.senseswa.com.au/positive-behaviour-support
