Art Therapy Sri Lanka

Shimali Perera (née Goonetilleke)

Shimali Perera (née Goonetilleke) is a graduate of Art Therapy from LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore and a Registered Art Therapist of ANZACATA (Australian, New Zealand, and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association). She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the Missouri University of Science and Technology (USA). As an Art Therapist her experience is with adults who have misused substances, those experiencing depression, anxiety disorders and children who have experienced trauma due to physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect, children from single parent families, and those experiencing grief.

Shimali has also conducted talks and Art Experiential Workshops for counselors, professionals in the corporate sector, teachers, children, and the general public in both Sri Lanka and overseas. She was also a resource person and a stall holder at the public exhibition held in celebration of the ‘World Health Day 2017 – Depression #LetsTalk’ organised by World Health Organization, Sri Lanka, as well as at the ‘World Mental Health Day 2017 – Mental Health in the Workplace’ Public Exhibition, organised by the National Institute of Mental Health, Angoda.

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that promotes creative self-expression on a symbolic level, through the creative use of art media, leading to the safe expression of emotions and internal conflicts. In Art Therapy, art is a medium of communication between the client and the therapist in order to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Importance is given to the process of image making and not to the end product. Thereby, it does not require prior knowledge in art. Throughout this process, the therapist enables the client to do what he/she may not be able to do alone in a safe and contained environment (Australian and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association, 2015).