ANZATA conferences
The Queensland 2011 ANZATA Conference
11 to 13 November 2011
At Hotel Diana, Princess Plaza and the Mater Hospital, Brisbane
The 22nd ANZATA conference was held this year on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 of November in Brisbane’s South Bank at the well-known Hotel Diana, across the road from the Mater Hospital in Annerley Rd, Woolloongabba. Three Masterclasses were heldon Friday 11 November including one by David Read Johnson, world renowned dramatherapist and Keynote Speaker for the conference. This was followed by two days (Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November) of a wide range of workshops and presentations focused on the conference theme of arts therapy responses to trauma and disaster relief.
David Read Johnson – Keynote Speaker
The keynote speaker was be the renowned David Read Johnson PhD, RDT-BCT who facilitated a Master class on Friday 11 November. David Read Johnson is Director of the Institutes for the Arts in Psychotherapy, New York City; Co-Director, Post Traumatic Stress Center, New Haven, Connecticut; Former President of the National Association for Drama Therapy; Former Editor-in-Chief, International Journall of the Arts in Psychotherapy. He is Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine. David’s workshop is entitled: ‘Developmental Transformations: Embodied Encounters in the Playspace’ and is for drama therapists and creative arts therapists interested in learning about and immersing themselves in Developmental Transformations theory, methods, and applications. Developmental Transformations theory utilises the improvisational playspace as the therapeutic container within which both clients and therapist embody, encounter, and transform their experiences toward a fuller sense of presence and tolerance. The dynamics of the play-space will be explored, increasing playability, tolerance for greater proximity in the therapeutic encounter, and decreasing fear over instability and uncertainty.
An art exhibition was on show at the Mater Hospital for the duration of the conference.
Developmental Transformations
Developmental Transformations is one of the major dramatherapy methods used in the US. Developed largely with severely disturbed populations such as traumatised children and adults, demented elderly, and people diagnosed with schizophrenia, it has since been applied with higher functioning people as well, both in individual and group therapy contexts. It emphasises the free play of embodied improvisation to identify and then deconstruct over-storied Selves and Lives and Issues that clients bring with them to therapy. Through playful, oftentimes humorous, interventions, the Developmental Transformations therapist stretches and surprises the client in intimate and mutual dramatic play. Developmental Transformations places the privileged position of the therapist into the play-space as a play object for the client to deal with as they wish. Thus the therapist is trained to tolerate and forgive themselves for their faults and counter-transferences. The aim of the therapeutic enterprise is to reduce the client’s fear over the instability of Being; that is, the inevitable turbulence of our mind, our body, and our encounter with those we love.
Evaluation Survey
ANZATA is eager to receive participant feedback following the 'Rivers to Recovery' Conference in Brisbane 2011. This survey’s constructive criticism will shape future ANZATA conferences. The anonymous survey will be collated to provide feedback to ANZATA, future conference organisers and the ANZATA membership.
Please click here to go to the survey
Past Conferences and Symposiums
2010 ANZATA Symposium
Arts Therapy in Western Australia and Beyond: A Creative Exploration
Saturday 14 May 2011
CECAT, Creative Expression Centre for Arts Therapy at the Graylands Campus
Click here to see the full program of the conference
2010 ANZATA Symposium
Interwoven – Weaving Together the Creative Arts and Well-being
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September 2010
Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, Parnell, Auckland
Click here to see the full program of the conference
2009 ANZATA Conference
A Creative Landscape – Arts Therapies by the Bay
Deakin University Waterfront Campus, Geelong, Victoria
31 October to 1 November 2009
Click here to see the full program of the conference
2009 ANZATA Symposium
Embodied Sensation – Sustaining Ourselves, Our Clients and the Profession
Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, Auckland
28 to 29 March 2009