Michelle Saleeba, a psychologist and therapeutic arts facilitator, is a big advocate of digging deep, creatively, to help healing from within.
It’s easy to think of wellness as all the classes you can do and all the superfoods you can integrate into your diet. Michelle Saleeba, a Subiaco psychologist and therapeutic arts facilitator, encourages you to also consider how a personal project might contribute to your wellbeing.
A personal project is anything that you do for yourself, which feels good to do and is not for, or linked to, other people. That’s not to say you have to do it alone, but the act itself is ultimately a solo performance.
Personal projects can range from hiking to an art project, cooking a meal, creating a collection, growing herbs, writing poetry or colouring mandalas. “Personal projects can really help us connect to ourselves,” says Michelle. “Plus, they can have strong ripples out into the rest of our lives. Those small acts for ourselves – taking time to imagine and meaningfully notice can really reshape how we experience the rest of our world”.
“Personal projects are an antidote to that constant cycle of performing online. They are something purely your own. Also, a space where the process might be more important than the product. You get to do something for the sake of it, rather than worrying about how it’s going to be judged.”
A fan of walking her talk, Michelle’s personal projects include making small blank books which she uses as art journals. Made with whatever supplies she has at hand. Michelle says their making offers several benefits: an activity to do with her hands, a way to be creative, and a soothing activity.
Michelle also touched on the importance of getting outdoors, and how this positively affects mental health. She’s integrated this into her practice, in Walk + Talk sessions, which are valuable from a therapeutic perspective but are also naturally good for your physical and mental wellbeing.
When it comes to outdoor spaces, Subiaco has an abundance of green spaces which are perfect for facilitating movement, meditation, journaling on a shady bench, birdwatching, and any other activities that help you reconnect with yourself.
To find out more about Michelle’s practice and philosophy, visit michellesaleeba.com.
By Ara Jansen.
