Trauma-informed
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Culturally responsive
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Client-led and reflective
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Supported by creative practice
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Focused on sustainability & wellbeing
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Trauma-informed - Culturally responsive - Client-led and reflective - Supported by creative practice - Focused on sustainability & wellbeing -
About
MudLarke Art Healing is a creative therapeutic practice dedicated to helping individuals, groups and professionals connect with their inner stories, navigate life’s challenges and grow through meaningful creative expression.
Founded in Kununurra and shaped by years of working alongside communities in the Kimberley, the practice is grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive and place-based approaches. Healing is understood as relational — connected to culture, story, body and Country.
The name ‘MudLarke’ reflects both the deep and practical nature of this work. Inspired by the idea of ‘mudlarking’ — creating with what is found around us — it speaks to shaping something meaningful from lived experience. It also acknowledges that healing often requires moving through the “mud”: the discomfort, uncertainty or complexity that can accompany change. When held in a safe, compassionate space, this process can lead to renewed insight, resilience and self-understanding.
Led by registered art therapist and social worker Stacey Larke, MudLarke Art Healing offers art therapy, clinical supervision, workshops and professional learning experiences that honour each person as the expert in their own journey — whether they are exploring personal growth, strengthening professional practice or building stronger community connections.
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a creative, evidence-based therapeutic approach that uses art-making as a pathway to explore thoughts, emotions and experiences. It is not about artistic skill or producing a “good” artwork — it’s about the process, expression and meaning found along the way.
Using materials such as paint, clay, drawing, collage or found objects, individuals are supported to express what may be hard to put into words. Through this process, people often gain clarity, emotional release, self-awareness and a sense of empowerment.
Art therapy engages both body and mind, making it especially supportive for people working through trauma, anxiety, stress, grief, identity shifts, life transitions or the need for grounded self-connection.
In the context of MudLarke Art Healing, art therapy is client-led, respectful of cultural stories and rhythms, and deeply informed by the understanding that every person carries their own wisdom, pace and way of making meaning.
Philosophy
At MudLarke Art Healing, healing is approached as a deeply personal, non-linear journey — one that unfolds in connection with self, story, community and, for many, Country. Our practice is grounded in the following principles:
Healing is not linear
There is no “right” pace or path, only the one that feels safe and true for each individual, remembering that we are all the experts on our own lived experience and personal stories.
Deep listening (Dadirri) creates safety
Holding space with presence, curiosity and care allows individuals to feel seen, heard and supported as they explore their experiences.
Culture and connection matter
For many people, especially within First Nations communities, healing is interwoven with identity, land, ancestors, family and collective story. These connections are honoured and respected in all therapeutic spaces.
Creativity supports wellbeing
Art-making fosters emotional regulation, storytelling, reflection and self-discovery. It is a powerful tool for insight and transformation and sometimes, simply, for fun!
Growth can be messy — and meaningful
Healing sometimes requires sitting with discomfort, uncertainty or emotion. When held within a safe, compassionate environment, even the ‘mud’ of our stories can become a source of learning, meaning and renewal.
People are not the problem
The problem is the problem.
Externalising problems allows individuals to explore challenges without self-blame, making space for resilience, strength and new possibilities.
“When words are not enough, we turn to images and symbols to tell our stories. And in telling our stories through art, we find pathways to wellness, recovery and transformation.”
Meet Stacey Larke
Meet Stacey Larke
Hello, I’m Stacey.
I consider myself a ‘creative doer’ — someone who infuses creativity into every aspect of my life. With a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Master’s in Art Therapy, I have spent the past 15 years living, loving and working in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, with time also spent in Melbourne and Perth.
I am passionate about delivering art healing across communities, beyond the confines of traditional therapeutic settings. This belief is what led me to create MudLarke Art Healing.
The word ‘mudlarking’ refers to a creative process where art is made using found objects, inspired by the resources of Country and the spaces we inhabit. I love this idea of being guided by our environment — finding opportunities for healing through creation in everyday ways. It also recognises the ‘mud’ of healing: the parts of our stories that may feel murky or uncomfortable, but which hold potential for growth when we are supported to explore them with care.
My approach integrates creative arts therapies, guided drawing, trauma-informed practices, mindfulness, narrative therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), EMDR, the Social and Emotional Wellbeing framework and Aboriginal psychological healing models. Over the years, I have been deeply shaped by the stories of resilience, connection, culture, struggle and strength that clients have shared with me as a mental health clinician.
I am committed to walking alongside people in their healing journeys, offering creative, safe and nurturing spaces to connect with self and move through life’s challenges.
Outside of my professional work, I love to find time for creative expression, gentle walks with my old kelpie Tinda (named before the app!), hiking and exploring Miriwoong and surrounding Country, sitting by a campfire, and sharing moments with my husband, family and friends in Kununurra.
