Autistic Identity Art Therapy Group program
CLICK HERE TO LODGE AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM ROUND IN 2026The Autistic Identity Art Therapy Group is a structured 12-week online group art therapy program dedicated to celebrating and strengthening autistic people through art practice and process, mutual exploration and community connection. It applies the concepts and framework of Art Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Intentional Peer Support. Conducted within a trauma and neuro/diversity informed framework, the program intentionally celebrates queer, First Nations and disabled people as a social justice action.
We will explore psychoeducation materials, share strategies and management techniques and most importantly engage in creative expression and artmaking together to support us to embrace autism. This group is not a manualised skills-based therapy (such as DBT) and you’ll not be learning "skills" within this group, our focus is exploring and understanding our autsitic selves and our needs.
The program is created and facilitated by Mahlie Jewell (M.AThR, M.ACA), a clinically qualified, registered and regulated Art Psychotherapist, trained peer worker and academic. Mahlie (she/they/I/we/us) is a First Nations later-in-life diagnosed autistic queer person with living with ADHD, complex trauma and chronic illnesses. In 2025, Mahlie began post-graduate research into the post-diagnostic therapeutic support needs of late and later-in-life diagnosed autistic womxn with Latrobe University and Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC).
Suitability criteria
Participants should:
- Be over the age of 18
- Identify as autistic - more information on ‘identification’ is in the Overview, Guidelines and FAQs document
- Be hoping to explore their autistic identity (suitable for people newly diagnosed and/or late diagnosed)
- Have access to art materials and a genuine interest in art making (no art ‘skill’ required)
- Have capacity and ability to commit to a weekly 2 hour online session for 12 consecutive weeks without break – Mahlie will
confirm this with you on application.
- Have skills and strategies to manage activation and distress as we are unable to manage crisis situations in this space – This
will be discussed on application.
- Have access to other supports outside of the space
- Have capacity to share a space with others for a 2 hour period (with short breaks)
- Have capacity to use typical zoom online meeting functions (such as chat, audio and video)
- Have capacity to provide weekly online feedback (this is a requirement of the program) as this enables us to continue to build
better programs moving forward as well as participate in valuable and underrepresented research.
- Be over the age of 18
- Identify as autistic - more information on ‘identification’ is in the Overview, Guidelines and FAQs document
- Be hoping to explore their autistic identity (suitable for people newly diagnosed and/or late diagnosed)
- Have access to art materials and a genuine interest in art making (no art ‘skill’ required)
- Have capacity and ability to commit to a weekly 2 hour online session for 12 consecutive weeks without break – Mahlie will
confirm this with you on application.
- Have skills and strategies to manage activation and distress as we are unable to manage crisis situations in this space – This
will be discussed on application.
- Have access to other supports outside of the space
- Have capacity to share a space with others for a 2 hour period (with short breaks)
- Have capacity to use typical zoom online meeting functions (such as chat, audio and video)
- Have capacity to provide weekly online feedback (this is a requirement of the program) as this enables us to continue to build
better programs moving forward as well as participate in valuable and underrepresented research.
The program
Complete program information is available in the Overview, Guidelines and FAQs document.
The program will run across twelve consecutive weekly 2-hour zoom sessions.
The program will focus on art practice and process surrounding the following themes and experiences:
Week 1: Building a community space
Week 2: My autism story
Week 3: Sensory profiles
Week 4: Communication
Week 5: Meltdown and Shutdown
Week 6: Masking and Burnout
Week 7: Unmasking and Special Interests
Week 8: Q&A and landing space
Week 9: Connection and Protection
Week 10: Needs and Boundaries
Week 11: Strengths
Week 12: Reflection
The program will run across twelve consecutive weekly 2-hour zoom sessions.
The program will focus on art practice and process surrounding the following themes and experiences:
Week 1: Building a community space
Week 2: My autism story
Week 3: Sensory profiles
Week 4: Communication
Week 5: Meltdown and Shutdown
Week 6: Masking and Burnout
Week 7: Unmasking and Special Interests
Week 8: Q&A and landing space
Week 9: Connection and Protection
Week 10: Needs and Boundaries
Week 11: Strengths
Week 12: Reflection
Fees
This program may be eligible for funding under the NDIS. More information about fees is available in the Overview, Guidelines and FAQs document.
CLICK HERE TO LODGE AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM ROUND IN 2026
