Testimonials

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 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 cherish in our family for generations 🖐🏼(handprints of my children and my dad in 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 personal 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've 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.    

Marae 2021

I was honoured to be Jess's supervisor for her practicum for the 2021 year.    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 refection.   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 questions, great questions of me in our time together.   This curiosity will be one her great skills. I have no doubt her swift adaptability, creativity, sweet sense of humour and non-judgement will continue to grow and to be of great service to others.  I can be contacted anytime for referrals.  

Annie Whitlocke 

Death Doula 

Buddhist Chaplain Monash Health 

Buddhist Chaplain 

Buddhist Council of Victoria Director HELD (Holistic End of Life Doula Affiliation) Committee member 

Social Health Australia Committee member AHFA (Australian Home Funerals Affiliation)       

Anemail10@gmail.com 

 Jess facilitated a number of beautiful, supportive art therapy session at my workplace. While exploring 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 art work 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. 

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 and 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 art works and poetry became an ongoing installation on an office wall in our Sanctuary.  The installation in turn became the basis 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 art works will be forever treasured here at Natural Grace.

We highly recommend Jess.

https://naturalgrace.com.au/