Who We Are
Beyond Valleys is an art therapy practice on a mission to share, inspire and heal through the power of creative expression that connects us all. Although we are located in the leafy foothills of Healesville, our work extends past geographical boundaries to offer Art Therapy in the Yarra Valley & beyond.
Behind the Name
Our name, Beyond Valleys, holds significant meanings. Symbolically, a valley represents a low point in life, a period of challenge where we may have felt lonely, afraid, unsure, or fragile.
Geographically, a valley is where water flows, where soil is fertile and rich in minerals. It is where food can grow to sustain and nourish the diverse life forms that a valley is home to. A valley is also a place of respite inviting us to pause, renew our strength, and gather what we need before continuing on.
When we meet in the valley, we offer our presence and companionship to uncover its hidden wisdoms and the resources needed to rest, and regain strength. For the journey never ends in the valley, but goes beyond.
Our Story
FROM OUR FOUNDER & CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIST, AMANDA NG:Beyond Valleys is the culmination of my decade-long search for a meaningful career that would stitch together my passions for the arts and supporting others. Prior to embarking on this path, I was a ceramic artist with an Honours degree in Psychology under my belt. I worked and trained in both research and applied mental health, honing my skills across various fields including wellbeing science, forensic health, disability and crisis support, youth mental health and NDIS service provision.
It was throughout my early career that I felt increasingly disheartened by the lack of supports for clients who felt misdiagnosed and had lost faith in the healthcare system, who found that words were never enough to convey the depth and complexity of their own lived experiences, or for whom mainstream talk therapies were simply not working.
Responding to the call to support clients in other ways, I began introducing art and clay in sessions, leading to tangible progress and meaningful change that garnered overwhelmingly positive feedback from staff, clients and their care teams. The momentum that this created affirmed my values as a creative and inspired me to eventually complete my masters degree in Arts Therapy.
Upon receiving my accreditation, I proudly launched my practice, Beyond Valleys, which embodies the core of who I am and my advocacy for the creative arts therapies. I hold professional registration as a board-certified Creative Arts Therapist with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA). As an ANZACATA member, I adhere to a wide range of professional and ethical requirements, and practice within the framework of the ANZACATA Standards of Professional Practice and Code of Ethics.
You can find many of my own personal artworks on this website, and I hope they stir your curiosity to learn more about what the arts can offer you in your life journey.
Alongside Beyond Valleys, I manage and run my pottery studio, Everyday Clay, infusing therapeutic insights into my teaching and clay practice to cultivate mindfulness and embodied presence.
