How I started as an Art Therapist
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into a career. For me, I was so sick of working for someone else and putting up with the bureaucratic bullshit hierarchy of money hungry organisations who didn’t give a crap about their people. The company I was working for at the time was going through a restructure and to say it was a shit show is an understatement. They had grand plans and no idea of how to execute them, let alone retain the fantastic staff they already had. We were dropping like flies, and I was begging my husband to let me quit and start my Art Therapy business.
It was my son’s support worker at the time that suggested I become an Art Therapist for NDIS participants. I was like what the??? Is that really a thing? I signed up for an art therapy course to test the waters and see if it was my thing and did a tonne of research not only on art therapy but the whole NDIS thing and how all that worked. Far out it was a lot, especially still working my day job. But I hated that job so much and I was so passionate about finally being able to use all of my education and experience to help others on a permanent and consistent basis. And I did it!
While studying the art therapy course and working my boring arse day job, I learnt what I needed to do to become a NDIS sole trader/provider. I taught myself how to get an ABN, find what insurance I needed, how to get a police and working with children check, how to buy a domain, and build a website. I was on fire! I was so determined to get out of the shit show job I was in and start living my life on my terms, that I resigned 3 months later. Yep, you’d be right in saying I don’t do things by halves. I have been called tenacious on a few occasions. When I make my mind up on something, there’s no stopping me. I was determined to make it happen. Now here I am, with a bunch of ongoing regular clients who have made me feel like a part of their families. It doesn’t feel like work because it is so rewarding watching them succeed and meet their goals.
I’ve been contacted on numerous occasions about how to become a sole trader and how to become an Art Therapist and spent many hours on the phone talking people (people I’ve never met) through the process. Hence, the reason for my downloadable resources. My time is limited and dedicated to my clients, but I still really want to help others setup their own dreams of helping others. If I can find this happy place, so can you! Reach out if you have questions. I’ll do my best to get back to you when I have time.
Remember to always Be Humble,
Jo
