Introduction to Arts Based Occupational Therapy
Build confidence in integrating expressive arts into psychosocial occupational therapy practice through practical, evidence-informed approaches that support engagement and meaningful participation.
Program Overview
This introductory workshop explores how expressive arts approaches can be ethically and effectively integrated into psychosocial occupational therapy practice. Grounded in occupational therapy theory and informed by expressive arts and art psychotherapy principles, the session will introduce therapists to the therapeutic use of creative occupations to support emotional regulation, self-expression, occupational engagement, therapeutic rapport, and skill development.
Participants will explore the distinction between expressive arts and fine arts and develop an understanding of how creative approaches can support occupational therapy goals through a MOHO-informed lens. The workshop will include experiential reflective activities, practical intervention examples, discussion around scope of practice and ethical considerations, and opportunities for participants to connect expressive arts approaches to real clinical presentations.
This session is designed to support occupational therapists in building confidence using expressive arts approaches in ways that are occupation-based, client-centred, trauma-informed, and clinically reasoned, while remaining within the scope of occupational therapy practice.
What you will learn (key learning objectives):
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Differentiate between expressive arts and fine arts approaches within Occupational Therapy practice.
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Identify how expressive arts interventions can support emotional regulation, communication, occupational participation, and therapeutic engagement.
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Apply a MOHO-informed lens to clinically reason expressive arts interventions within psychosocial occupational therapy.
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Identify ethical considerations, scope of practice boundaries, and appropriate referral pathways when integrating expressive arts into therapy sessions.
By attending this workshop, you will:
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Expand your psychosocial intervention toolkit with practical, occupation-based expressive arts approaches that can be immediately integrated into individual and group occupational therapy practice.
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Strengthen clinical reasoning and confidence in using creative occupations to support emotional regulation, self-expression, therapeutic engagement, and meaningful participation across diverse client presentations.
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Learn to apply expressive arts through an occupational therapy lens, using MOHO-informed frameworks to ensure interventions remain purposeful, client-centred, and aligned with occupational goals.
Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is suitable for occupational therapists at all career stages who are interested in developing confidence using expressive and creative approaches within occupational therapy practice.
The workshop will provide foundational knowledge for occupational therapists working within psychosocial, mental health, disability, community, or paediatric settings.
DATE:
Monday 21st September 2026
TIME:
12:30pm – 2:30pm | NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, QLD |
12 noon – 2:00pm | SA, NT |
10:30am – 12:30pm | WA |
This session will run for approximately 90 minutes
Please login to Zoom 10 minutes before the scheduled presentation time
VENUE:
Online via Zoom platform. Login details will be sent to registered participants the day prior to the event
CPD HOURS:
Total CPD claimable workshop hours: 2 hours
Please allow 48 hours for your CPD Certificate to be loaded in your CPD Tracker after course completion.
ACCESS:
This session WILL NOT BE RECORDED as it is an interactive workshop.
Participants will be able to access the course materials in their OTA account for the duration of the event and for a further 12 weeks after the event.
REGISTRATION FEES & INCLUSIONS
EARLY BIRD FEES: Register on or before 6th August 2026
OTA Member: $80
Student New Graduate: $72
Non Member: $105
(All pricing is inclusive of GST)
STANDARD FEES: Book on or after 7th August 2026
OTA Member: $90
Student / New Graduate: $80
Non Member: $115
(All pricing is inclusive of GST)
Registrations close at 11:55pm AEST on 17th September 2026
Members must be logged in with username and password in order to register at the member rate.
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DISCLAIMER
All information is correct at the time of publication. OTA reserves the right to alter or delete items from the CPD calendar as required, and takes no responsibility for any errors, omissions and changes.
All workshop resources including copies of the presentation, along with all supporting documents and links are not for distribution and are the property of the presenter.
An OTA staff member or representative may be photographing this event for use in OTA publications and/ or on OTA social media sites. If you do not wish to be photographed, or have your image published please make this known to the OTA representative at your course or contact OTA on 1300 682 878 or at info@otaus.com.au
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Terms and Conditions including OTA’s refund and cancellation policy are available here
CONTACT US
Please email info@otaus.com.au or phone 1300 682 878
Presented By
Tessa Lloyd
Tessa Lloyd is an occupational therapist working within psychosocial and neuroaffirming practice, with a special interest in integrating expressive arts approaches into occupational therapy intervention. She holds a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and postgraduate training in Art Psychotherapy and works primarily with neurodivergent adolescents and adults experiencing emotional regulation challenges, identity exploration, anxiety, burnout, sensory processing differences, and mental health concerns. Tessa’s practice is grounded in creative, relational, and occupation-based approaches that support emotional expression, therapeutic engagement, and participation in meaningful occupations. She is passionate about helping occupational therapists build confidence using expressive and creative modalities ethically and safely within their scope of practice. Her work integrates occupational therapy models including MOHO with expressive arts approaches such as visual art, movement, storytelling, journaling, and sensory-based interventions to support emotional regulation, self-understanding, and occupational participation.