Marae

Jess was so wonderful, we felt so safe and held in her care during such a sensitive and emotional time. Jess had a natural way of making you feel comfortable and relaxed in her company. She and Annie did a hand-casting of my parents’ hands holding each other 🙏 The process was guided so smoothly and she made my father feel really special.

Jess offered to come round and do some art therapy with my children to help them with their processing of what our family was going through. It was so important for my children to be in this space with Jess, creating and speaking about their grandfather. It was moving, the care and love she bestowed on them during this session and she created some really special artworks that will be cherished in our family for generations 🤚 (handprints of my children and my dad is an artwork). I feel blessed to have found Jess on my bereavement journey.

Separate again to these other encounters, she has taken me under her art therapy wing too and we have done some person art therapy sessions together over the last couple of weeks. These sessions I hold very close to my heart. I’m so grateful for the time I spent with her, she allowed me to be as I needed to be in these sessions, to create anything that came up and most profoundly, recited back my words of my processes after the session. She has helped me heal, accept and move forward through this life journey of losing my father.

Annie Whitlocke

I was honoured to be Jess’ supervisor for her practicum in 2021. Jess chose to specialise in end-of-life; myself and another end-of-life organisation certainly placed her right in the centre. From day one, Jess was placed before many previously unasked questions, requiring great sensitivity, depth of comprehension and ever-changing reflection. Not once did Jess shy away from some very out-of-the-ordinary situations. She was placed before human grief at its darkest. Jess asked many great questions of me in our time together. This curiosity will be one of her greatest skills. I have no doubt her swift adaptibility, creativity, sweet sense of humour and non-judgement will continue to grow and to be of great service to others.

Sally N

I reached out to Jess, intuitively sensing she had the courage, strength and gifting to be a guiding midwife to a new and different type of birth: the re-birth of myself in my 40’s and the deepening of my direction and life purpose. Through talk, paper, pastel, clay, thread, and cloth, my hands and my head found their way together to understand better the fears that bound me.

Jess’ process of embodying longing and hope guided me toward the pain and power of birth, much like [how] a child is born. Mirroring my process through her own words, I found myself witnessed, articulated and gently held. Trusting Jess has proved so worthwhile. Today I am walking more fully in who I was always created to be, with the dignity of my own calling and more freedom from fear to express in this world.

Marguerite

Jess facilitated a number of beautiful, supportive art therapy sessions at my workplace. While explaining different art media, Jess listened and reflected what my heart seemed to be saying. With her gentle guidance, I began a process of opening up and transforming deep grief and shame into acceptance and hope.

Jess created a space where there was no judgement, no haste, no right or wrong. It was the perfect space to let my inner voice speak through the artwork and be validated. In a short time, I have grown and taken steps I never thought I would dare to take. Jess is a gifted therapist and I am very grateful for the chance to work with her.

Libby Maloney

Director, Natural Grace Holistic Funeral Care

Jess’ Masters of Therapeutic Arts practice placement was an immersive and embedded placement with Natural Grace Holistic Funeral Care and End-of-Life Doula, Annie Whitlocke. It was a year-long placement during 2021.

While working with Natural Grace, Jess observed ceremonies, sat with families, engaged deeply with our holistic funeral care team, helped with body care, prepared coffins and shroud bearers for cremation & burial, and engaged with other professionals working in the end-of-life space.

Jess engaged in fortnightly art-making process in response to her experiences. These artworks and poetry became an ongoing installation on an office wall in our Sanctuary. The installation inturn became the back of a book that honours and reflects back to us all the exquisite spaces we hold and multiple roles we play with families. Jess also facilitated group and individual self-reflection / wellbeing art therapy sessions for our team.

The placement was an outstanding success and Jess’ gentle manner, deep insight and meaningful artworks will be forever treasured here at Natural Grace. We highly recommend Jess.