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Our Team

Meet the Vlinder Team

Our team of arts psychotherapists is here to support kids, adults, and families in reconnecting with creativity, confidence, and emotional well-being through art therapy.

  • Veronica Bestall

    Founder / Arts Pyschotherapist AthR

    I help people reconnect with joy, meaning, and self-expression through creative art therapy, offering a safe space to heal, discover, and share their unique gifts with the world.

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  • Deidrie Tehan

    Arts Psychotherapist BAP

    I specialise in Talk, Art, and Eco Therapy, guiding clients through holistic, creative, and strength-based sessions that promote healing, self-awareness, and personal growth for people of all ages.

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  • Rachel Clarkin

    Arts Psychotherapist BAP

    I provide a safe, creative, trauma-informed space for children, adolescents, and adults to explore experiences, build resilience, and grow through expressive arts and psychotherapy.

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  • Jo-Anne Knight

    Arts Pyschotherapist AthR (Qualifying)

    I provide a safe, nurturing, and trauma-informed space where individuals and groups can explore creativity, express emotions, and build resilience through personalised art therapy.

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  • Our Values

    Intention

    Every action, decision, and creation is guided by thoughtful intention, ensuring our work is meaningful and impactful.

    Safety

    We create a safe and nurturing space for our team and creatives. This is a place where you can be yourself and thrive.

    Discovery

    Every day at Vlinder is an opportunity for discovery. We encourage exploration and innovation in our practices.

    Growth

    We believe in continuous development. We support our team members in their journey to becoming the best versions of themselves.

    Belonging

    We cultivate a sense of belonging for everyone. Our inclusive environment ensures that every team member and creative feels valued and connected.

    Want to Join Us?

    At Vlinder Expressive Arts Therapy, we’re always looking for passionate, creative, and dedicated arts therapists to join our team. Whether you’re seeking contract work, part-time hours, or a full-time role, there are opportunities for you here.

    Why Join Vlinder?

    🌱 Growth: Ongoing personal and professional development
    🤝 Belonging: A safe, inclusive, and supportive environment
    🎨 Discovery & Wonder: Embrace creativity and innovation every day
    💜 Impact: Make a real difference in people’s lives through art therapy

    Current Opportunities

    Contract Therapists
    Part-Time Therapists
    Full-Time Staff Members

    If you’d like to join our team, send your CV and a short cover letter to info@vlinderexpressiveartstherapy.com – we’d love to hear from you!

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    Happy People Transforming Their Lives Through Creativity

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    Join a growing community embracing expressive arts therapy to heal, grow, and explore. Whether you seek personal insight, emotional support, or a creative outlet, our client-centred approach helps unlock new perspectives.

    Book a session today and experience the power of creative expression!

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    Veronica Bestall

    Founder / Arts Pyschotherapist AthR

    Are you looking for self-awareness and a meaningful life?

    You’ve come to the right place.

    My name is Veronica. As an art therapist, I help people live meaningful lives full of wonder, peace, and the joy of self-expression. I help people like you bring their unique gifts to the world.

    I work with fellow creatives, dreamers, and legends who need help to access meaning creatively when their ability to find meaning is diminished due to stress, trauma, transitions, grief, anxiety, and other life challenges.

    I will support you by providing a safe place to access inspired creative experiences and explorations to draw on your deep wealth of wisdom and knowledge.

    Life was meant for joy, but when you feel things strongly, it can be easier to focus on the things that have held you back from experiencing a full and meaningful life—a life that has been created with intention, focus, and enthusiasm for your own uniqueness. We know that not every journey is easy, but there is access to regaining and healing anxiety, disappointments, challenges, and fears.

    Looking at life from a different perspective, through your expression, is one way to do that.

    Somewhere in the bliss of my creativity, I gained a sense of myself. I could feel connected to others and myself like I belonged to the world and its beauty, but mostly, I felt inspired and like I had something to offer—an inspired choice to make a difference.

    My Smarts

    • Bachelor of Creative Industries (Visual Art)
    • Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education
    • Diploma in School-Aged Care and Education Graduate
    • Diploma in Transpersonal Art Therapy
    • Masters of Therapeutic Art

    My Street Smarts

    • Lover of people, plants, and animals
    • Advocate for consciousness and meaningful meanings
    • Closet bucket list maker
    • Wannabe wordsmith extraordinaire
    • Brainstorming enthusiastic
    • Born-again Visual Artist

    If you wish to embark on a journey of discovery and re-engaging with a life well lived through the wonders of your own self-expression and creativity, join me. It would be my honour and privilege to be your guide.

    Deidrie Tehan

    Arts Psychotherapist BAP

    I’m Deidrie, a mature woman who lives on the Gold Coast and specialises in Talk, Art and Eco Therapy. Within my therapeutic sessions, I am led by the client, where an engagement is created between us both… With compassion, empathy, integrity, and authenticity, it is a holistic, creative approach and exploration.

    I believe that through healing, growth, and transformation of emotional, physical, and spiritual health, we can create solutions and make a positive impact on one’s life.

    My sessions are strength-based, person-focused, and solutions-orientated. The interpersonal relationship between the client and therapist is the cornerstone of the therapeutic alliance.

    As a qualified allied health practitioner, I have completed over five years of training with my Bachelor’s degree in Arts Psychotherapy and Transpersonal Counselling. Over the past years, I have also had a degree in Art and Applied Photography, plus many years of experience working with people of all diversities and ages, specialising in families, women, and children. Gestalt Sand Play therapy is another tool used in sessions.

    In ecotherapy, nature and art are combined to create a joint therapeutic session that promotes healing. Through the process, you can slow down and explore issues in a secure and caring environment, giving you more control over your life, allowing you to understand yourself better, and seeing yourself as part of a dynamic ecosystem.

    Simple activities such as walking on the beach or in the bush, talking, sitting and using mindfulness techniques are all part of the process.

    Art therapy is for everyone! In art, we are free to express our inner selves without words. Doing it safely with an art therapist can bring self-awareness, healing, and transformation.

    Sand play and play therapy are some of my favourites with children especially, however, adults keep coming back to the sand play too!

    I will be with you as you journey this stage of your life’s story. We need to find a path forward together towards authentic healing. Access your inner compass to explore who you are and be the creative author of your life.

    My purpose is to facilitate a space for you to find a new perspective, increase resilience, and gain self-understanding, thereby achieving a more integrated sense of self and a more peaceful path forward.

    Rachel Clarkin

    Arts Psychotherapist BAP

    I’m Rachel, an art therapist passionate about creating a safe, creative, and non-judgmental space where your story can be heard. I work with children, adolescents, and adults from diverse backgrounds, combining art and psychotherapy to explore lived experiences, improve well-being, build strengths and resources, and support personal growth. Using various art modalities and techniques, I help clients express themselves, reflect on new perspectives, and connect with a space of healing.

    Curiosity is at the heart of my practice — I am genuinely interested in your story and in discovering the therapeutic approaches that best suit your needs, empowering you to have your voice heard and respected for your personal growth, development, and healing.

    Safety is essential in my work. My trauma-informed art therapy experience includes facilitating sessions for women, children, and social workers at a domestic violence refuge, providing capacity-building under NDIS, and supporting individuals and groups through mental health services. I offer both outreach and studio-based sessions, allowing clients to choose the setting that feels most comfortable while prioritising transport, privacy, and confidentiality.

    Discovery has been a guiding theme in my life. In my 40s, I rediscovered the richness and therapeutic benefits of creativity, which led me to change my career path after over 20 years in finance. I completed my Bachelor of Art Therapy in 2023 and am now continuing my professional development through a Master’s Degree in Therapeutic Arts Practice.

    Belonging is central to my work and life. I am a valued member of Vlinder Expressive Arts Therapy and actively participate in my community as a past presenter for the MHPN Metro South Disaster Recovery Network, a board member of Hand Bent Banana Arts and Health Centre, and a Volunteer Art Therapist for the Motor Neuron Disease Association Qld.

    Jo-Anne Knight

    Arts Pyschotherapist AthR (Qualifying)

    I’m Jo-Anne, an art therapist passionate about the healing power of creative expression. I provide a safe, nurturing, and trauma-informed space where individuals and groups can explore their inner worlds through painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, and other art forms, supporting emotional release, self-expression, and personal growth.

    My approach is guided by empathy, warmth, and a non-judgmental presence, helping clients feel understood and supported while developing new insights and coping strategies. With training in trauma-informed care and acceptance and commitment therapy, I can address complex emotional and psychological challenges and provide comprehensive, compassionate care.

    Beyond direct therapy, I am committed to professional development, regularly attending workshops and conferences to stay updated on the latest art therapy and mental health practices. I also engage in advocacy and education, raising awareness of art therapy’s benefits through public speaking, writing, and collaboration with other professionals.

    Looking forward, I aim to expand art therapy access to more communities, partnering with schools, community centres, and organisations to bring the healing power of art to those who may not otherwise have access. My goal is to inspire and empower clients, helping them navigate life’s challenges with creativity, resilience, and hope.