ABOUT ETC

Expressive Therapy Clinic was founded by Megan Shiell in 2005.  The clinic focuses on delivering DBT Training to health care professionals with emphasis on the standard model of DBT. At ETC we are passionate about the use of Art making alongside the skills of DBT. We believe that adding a non-verbal approach to the verbal learning of DBT Skills enhances the learning for clients. Online DBT 16 sessions intensive training available now under “online courses”.

WHAT IS DBT?

A key component of DBT based skills is teaching a client to stay a little longer than before with feeling emotional pain, validating and accepting their experience whilst moving towards changes in behaviours. Clients are shown how to become present with their emotions and learn how to tolerate the distress that may be experienced. DBT teaches clients how to control urges and impulsive behaviour that can harm relationships and effect their quality of life.

WHAT IS ART THERAPY?

Art Psychotherapy is a form of treatment that uses creative modalities to improve and enhance physical, mental and emotional well-being. The emphasis is on the process of creating, rather than on the end product. The art of making allows the unconscious mind to produce material that can assist clients in gaining insight into their behaviours, emotions and beliefs in the safe contained environment with an Art Therapist.

Borderline Personality Disorder is one of the most stigmatised and misunderstood mental health conditions.

It affects a significant number of people in the community, a large proportion of them having suffered trauma early in life. The emotional instability, fear of abandonment and patterns of self-harm can alter someone’s life and that of their loved ones in profound ways.

But the enduring stigma around BPD means it often goes unrecognised or not properly treated and many fall through the cracks.

Mon 20 Sep 2021, 5:30pm

 

Evaluation of a skills-based peer-led art therapy online-group for people with emotion dysregulation

We developed and piloted a novel art-based online skills program led by a peer mental health professional with lived experience of complex mental health, including Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Key challenges of living with BPD and emotion dysregulation were addressed through artmaking informed by a dialectical framework and skills, to evaluate acceptability and efficacy.

Check out Chapter 4

Written by Megan Shiell

2026 Calendar

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Intensive 2 Day Training

COST: $455
TIME: 9am – 4pm NSW Time
Limit of 12 Participants

  • Monday 8 Tuesday 9 December 2025
  • Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 February 2026
  • Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 May 2026
  • Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 July 2026
  • Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 September 2026
  • Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 November 2026

16 Sessions DBT self paced program $425 (similar content to 2 Day DBT Intensive)

DBT Intensive Training -16 Sessions DBT self-paced program $425 (similar content to 2 Day DBT Intensive)

DBT and Children – For Schools and individual therapy “LOOK INSIDE” Self-Paced Learning – 10 Lessons – Videos, Manual and Lesson Plans included $455

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Skills and ADHD $330

DBT Skills and ADDICTION 10 Sessions – Videos and Manual – $330

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Art Making: $330

Positive Psychology, Solution Focused Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy and Art Making: $330

Managing Emotions Program For Health Care Professionals: $440

Managing Emotions Program for Carers and Clients: $110

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Art Psychotherapy for Mental Health