Table of Contents
- What to Expect in Art Therapy Before You Book
- How to Find an Art Therapist in Your Area
-
Step-by-Step: Booking Your Creative Arts Therapy Session
- Step 1: Confirm Your Therapist's Credentials and Registration
- Step 2: Check Availability, Session Format and Accessibility
- Step 3: Clarify Your Funding Pathway Before You Book
- Step 4: Complete the Intake Assessment and Paperwork
- Step 5: Confirm Booking, Payment and Cancellation Terms
- Booking Checklist
- Art Therapy Activities: What You'll Do in Your Session
- Art Therapy Costs and Medicare Coverage
- Preparing for Your First Creative Arts Therapy Appointment
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: October 7, 2026
What to Expect in Art Therapy Before You Book
A book creative arts therapy session uses artistic expression, painting, drawing, sculpture, to explore emotions and thoughts that are hard to put into words.
A typical appointment involves one-on-one work with a trained therapist in a calm environment, with conversation, quiet focus, or both. All materials are provided, and no art experience is needed.
The therapeutic process begins the moment you arrive: your therapist creates a safe environment where you can pause, reconnect and gain insight at your own pace.
How to Find an Art Therapist in Your Area
Many mental health professionals now offer creative arts therapy as part of their practice.
Check whether your therapist has formal credentials in art therapy or expressive arts from recognised training bodies, and ask your GP for a referral, they often know local art-based practitioners.
Pure Art Moments offers holistic integrated creative arts therapy sessions designed to support emotional regulation, self-expression and psychological wellbeing.
Online directories and community mental health services can also connect you with local practitioners.
Step-by-Step: Booking Your Creative Arts Therapy Session
When you book creative arts therapy, it's more than picking a time slot. These steps cover the clinical, funding and administrative checks most guides skip.
Step 1: Confirm Your Therapist's Credentials and Registration
Before you commit, verify your therapist's qualifications. Ask about their training in art therapy or expressive arts, and whether they are registered with a professional body such as the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA) (ANZACATA). Registration matters because practice requires both artistic knowledge and clinical training in trauma-informed care, mental health assessment and ethical practice.
A qualified art therapist will happily discuss their background and how they tailor sessions. If they are vague about credentials or training, that is a red flag.
Step 2: Check Availability, Session Format and Accessibility
Confirm whether the therapist offers individual sessions, group workshops or both. Most people start with individual sessions, which are more flexible and let the therapist focus entirely on you. A typical session runs 45 minutes to an hour.
Ask about scheduling options, weekdays, evenings or weekends, and whether they work in-person, online, or both. In-person sessions let the therapist observe your non-verbal communication and creative process, while online suits accessibility needs or scheduling constraints.
Step 3: Clarify Your Funding Pathway Before You Book
This step determines what you actually pay. Work through these checks in order:
- Private health extras: Some funds pay a rebate on creative arts therapy under extras cover if the provider is a recognised allied health practitioner. Call your fund with the therapist's provider number and ask what is claimable per session and what your annual limit is.
- Mental health treatment plan: Book a longer GP appointment and ask whether you are eligible for a Mental Health Treatment Plan, which can refer you to allied health professionals under the Better Access initiative. Creative arts therapy is not a Medicare-rebated item in its own right, so ask your GP whether an eligible allied health professional at the same practice offers it, or whether your sessions can be delivered as part of a broader allied health plan.
- NDIS: If you are an NDIS participant, check whether creative arts therapy is listed in your plan as a funded support and which budget it sits under. Confirm whether your plan is self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed, because this changes how you pay. Self-managed participants pay upfront and claim back; plan-managed participants usually need an invoice sent to the plan manager; NDIA-managed participants generally need a registered provider. Ask the therapist which they can work with before you book.
- Concession and low-cost options: Ask about concession rates, sliding scales, package pricing and any free introductory session. Community health centres and some not-for-profit services also offer subsidised creative arts therapy.
Step 4: Complete the Intake Assessment and Paperwork
Most therapists require an intake assessment before your first session, a confidential conversation about your reasons for seeking therapy, your mental health history and any specific concerns, which the therapist uses to design helpful sessions.
You will typically complete a referral form or intake questionnaire covering your background, current challenges and therapy goals. Bring your Mental Health Treatment Plan and GP referral letter, NDIS plan and number, or private health fund and membership details, as applicable.
Step 5: Confirm Booking, Payment and Cancellation Terms
Once the intake is complete, confirm your appointment time and discuss payment: session cost, whether the therapist accepts NDIS funding, and accepted payment methods.
Also ask about the cancellation policy. Most practices require 24 to 48 hours' notice, and late cancellations may be charged in full or at 50 per cent.
For Pure Art Moments, booking is simple: after purchase of the Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapy package, email pam.pureartmoments@gmail.com or call 0433 680 513 to lock in your session times.
Booking Checklist
Use this checklist before you confirm your first appointment:
Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapy →
- Therapist's qualifications and professional registration confirmed
- Session format, length and location or platform confirmed
- Funding pathway identified (private health, Mental Health Treatment Plan, NDIS or self-funded)
- NDIS plan management type checked and provider's registration status confirmed
- Private health extras limit and rebate amount checked with your fund
- Intake form and referral documents completed and returned
- Session fee, package price and payment methods confirmed in writing
- Cancellation and late-notice policy understood
- Accessibility needs communicated
- Appointment time confirmed and added to your calendar
Art Therapy Activities: What You'll Do in Your Session
During a creative arts therapy session, you'll work with art materials and creative modalities tailored to your needs, encouraging self-expression and emotional exploration without pressure to create "good" art.
Common activities include painting, drawing, sculpture, collage or clay. Your therapist might suggest an activity based on what you're working through, or invite you to choose what feels right.
Some sessions focus on mindfulness and embodiment, bringing awareness to your body and emotions as you create. Others involve dialogue, reflecting together on what emerged.
Art Therapy Costs and Medicare Coverage
Individual creative arts therapy sessions at Pure Art Moments are $85 per session.
The table below summarises the main funding pathways and what each one typically covers.
| Funding pathway | What it covers | What you need to check |
|---|---|---|
| Self-funded | Full session fee | Whether the therapist offers packages or concession rates |
| Private health extras | A rebate per session, up to an annual limit | Whether your fund recognises the provider and the modality |
| Mental Health Treatment Plan (Better Access) | Partially covers eligible allied health sessions | Whether creative arts therapy is delivered by an eligible allied health professional |
| NDIS | Sessions that support your plan goals, if listed | Your plan management type and the provider's registration status |
Private Health Extras
Some private health funds pay a rebate on creative arts therapy under extras cover if the provider is a recognised allied health practitioner. Rebates are usually a set amount per session, with an annual limit per person or policy. Call your fund before you book with the therapist's provider number and ask three things: the rebate per session, the annual limit and whether a doctor's referral is required. Keep your receipts, as most funds require you to claim after you pay.
Mental Health Treatment Plan and Medicare
Medicare does not directly fund creative arts therapy, as it is not a Medicare-rebated item in its own right. However, you may access sessions through a Mental Health Treatment Plan arranged by your GP. Under the Better Access initiative, a GP can refer you to eligible allied health professionals for a set number of subsidised sessions per calendar year. If an eligible allied health professional at the same practice offers creative arts therapy as part of your treatment, those sessions may be partially covered.
NDIS Funding
If you are an NDIS participant, creative arts therapy may be funded through your plan if it is included as a support for your goals. Check your NDIS plan to see whether art therapy is listed as a funded activity and which budget it sits under, usually capacity building or core supports.
How you pay depends on your plan management type:
- Self-managed: You pay the therapist directly and claim the amount back through the NDIS portal. Keep invoices and proof of payment.
- Plan-managed: Your plan manager pays the therapist from your plan budget. Ask the therapist to invoice the plan manager directly.
- NDIA-managed: The therapist generally needs to be a registered NDIS provider. Confirm this before booking, because unregistered providers cannot be paid through this pathway.
Concession Rates and Packages
Pure Art Moments, for example, offers an introductory package where your first session is free when you book 6 sessions at $85 per session, with concession rates available if you hold a pensioner or concession card. Community health centres and some not-for-profit services also offer subsidised creative arts therapy, so ask your GP or local health service about low-cost options.
Preparing for Your First Creative Arts Therapy Appointment
Arriving prepared for your first session sets you up for a meaningful experience. There's not much you need to do, but a few simple steps help.
Think about what you'd like to explore or what's been on your mind lately.
Bring an open mind and a willingness to try something new.
After your first session, you might feel energised, reflective, emotionally lighter or tired from deep emotional work. All are normal.
Booking a creative arts therapy session is a meaningful step toward emotional wellbeing and self-discovery. Pure Art Moments offers holistic integrated creative arts therapy designed to support your individual journey, with a safe, nurturing space guided by a skilled therapist. Book an experience today and discover how creative arts therapy can help you build resilience, emotional clarity and a deeper connection to your inner world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be good at art to try creative arts therapy?
No. Creative arts therapy is not about creating perfect artwork or having existing artistic skill. The focus is on self-expression, emotional exploration, and the therapeutic process itself. Your therapist will guide you through activities using paint, drawing tools, clay, or other materials in ways that support your emotional wellbeing, regardless of your experience level.
Is art therapy covered by Medicare?
Medicare does not directly fund creative arts therapy. However, if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you may be able to access sessions through an eligible allied health professional. It's best to discuss your specific situation with your GP and the therapist.
What should I bring to my first creative arts therapy session?
Most therapists provide all materials you'll need, so you typically don't need to bring anything. However, bring a notepad if you'd like to jot down reflections afterward, wear comfortable clothing you don't mind getting paint or clay on, and arrive with an open mind. Your therapist will confirm what's needed when you book.
How long does a creative arts therapy session usually last?
Individual creative arts therapy sessions at Pure Art Moments are 45 minutes long. This allows time for settling in, engaging with creative activities, and reflecting on your experience.