A MYSTERIOUS benefactor has led to a childhood sex abuse survivor becoming an art therapist.
Altona Meadows woman Mairead Ashcroft has embarked on a new career helping adults and children express themselves and develop self-awareness and resilience.
Ms Ashcroft’s abuse, from the ages of 8 to 11, left her with post-traumatic stress disorder.
But during a visit to her doctor, Ms Ashcroft received some unexpected news.
“Someone had said to my local doctor that if a patient was to come in who they thought would benefit from doing some art, then this anonymous person would pay for a person to do art.
“And my doctor chose me and I started doing art down at the Louis Joel centre [in Altona] and I found it fantastic.
“From there I thought, no, there’s more to this, and I researched into it and that’s how I became an art therapist.
“So, it was from somebody’s kind gift. And I still don’t know who it is — it’s somebody in the Altona area.”
Ms Ashcroft is holding art classes for adults and children at the centre.
For bookings and information, call 0401 649 967 or go to artoflifewithmairead@gmail.com or artoflifewithmairead.blogspot.com.au
—Goya Dmytryshchak
