In this profoundly moving episode of Active Kreative Perspectives, Valerie Ogorodnyk is joined by the incredible Rae Bonney—mental health advocate, dedicated champion for men's wellbeing, mother, and grandmother—whose powerful insights on raising boys, suicide prevention, and the deep roots of societal stigma will leave listeners reflecting long after the episode concludes. Rae is a bold advocate, a compassionate changemaker, and a fearless voice dedicated to men’s mental health and suicide prevention. Rae Bonney isn’t afraid to dive into tough conversations that society often avoids.

In this powerful episode of Active Kreative Perspectives, Rae and host Valerie Ogorodnyk raise critical themes about masculinity, parenting, and societal expectations. They explore hard-hitting questions:

🔸 Who’s truly accountable for how our boys are raised?

🔸 Why do we continue labeling men's suffering as mental health issues without addressing deeper, societal root causes?

🔸 How can we create environments where men feel heard, valued, and empowered rather than disposable?

Join us as Rae shares deeply personal insights, provocative ideas, and challenges us all to rethink how we shape the future of men in our lives.

✨ Memorable Quotes from Rae:

🕒 Episode Highlights:

• [00:00:38] Introduction to Rae’s advocacy.
• [00:02:11] Rae's journey from a challenging childhood to becoming an advocate for men's mental health and suicide prevention.
• [00:05:11] Raising sons differently and breaking societal norms.
• [00:07:13] Suicide prevention: Why most male suicides aren't primarily mental health issues.
• [00:08:09] Exploring feminism’s impact on men and societal roles.
• [00:13:16] Rae’s approach to supporting men through crises.
• [00:19:29] Importance of inherent curiosity and resilience.
• [00:27:47] Rae’s transition into grandparenthood and its transformative power.
• [00:30:08] Rae’s influential role in Global Action for Men's Health.
• [00:38:48] Common trajectory leading men to crisis and suicide.
• [00:44:21] The responsibility of parents in shaping future generations.
• [00:50:08] The importance of celebrating masculinity positively.
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💬 Share your thoughts with us! What truth did Rae awaken for you?

Here are the links to reach Rae Bonney:

Linked In

Website

YouTube

#MensMentalHealth

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Dr. Alana (Lani) Roy - is a psychologist, social worker, researcher and advocate for psychedelic-assisted therapy. With a background in complex trauma, sexual abuse, family violence and disability, she has dedicated her career to supporting individuals through non-traditional healing modalities. She provides education, training and harm reduction strategies for psychedelic integration. She is also a founding chair of the Australian Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Practitioners (AMAPP),https://amapp.org/ working to ensure ethical and safe access to psychedelic treatments.Through her work, Dr. Roy bridges the gap between science and spirituality, advocating for evidence-based approaches while honouring the sacred and indigenous traditions. Her mission is to help individuals reconnect with themselves, heal generational trauma and transform mental health care systems.

🔹 Psychedelic-assisted therapy as a tool for trauma recovery

🔹 The ethical and legal challenges of psychedelics in Australia

🔹 Science vs. spirituality in mental health treatment

🔹 Art therapy and creative expression in psychedelic integration

🔹 Breaking generational trauma through parenting & self-awareness

⏱ [00:00:07] – Introduction & Background Valerie welcomes Dr. Lani Roy, a psychologist and social worker, who has spent her career working in complex trauma, sexual abuse, and family violence. Dr. Roy shares how mainstream mental health treatments often fail to reach the depth of healing needed for trauma survivors.

⏱ [00:03:07] – Discovering Psychedelic Therapy After years of searching for more effective trauma treatments, Dr. Roy shares how her personal journey led her to ayahuasca and other plant medicines, igniting her passion for research and advocacy in psychedelic-assisted therapy.

⏱ [00:06:09] – Balancing Science & the Mystery Dr. Roy discusses the paradox of being both a scientist and a spiritual seeker. She emphasises the importance of blending evidence-based approaches with sacred traditions.

⏱ [00:09:18] – Challenges in Psychedelic Legalisation & Equity Despite Australia's progress in legalising MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for depression, accessibility remains a major issue.

⏱ [00:16:30] – The Deepest Transformation Through Psychedelics Dr. Roy reflects on the most profound impact of psychedelic therapy: "I've seen people who have survived the worst kinds of trauma—abuse, war, and torture—find a light that is stronger than their enemy’s darkness." She highlights how psychedelics help survivors reconnect with their bodies, emotions, and sense of meaning in life.

⏱ [00:23:01] – The Role of Art Therapy in Integration Dr. Roy discusses the power of creative expression in helping individuals process psychedelic experiences: "Art is a tool for expressing the unspeakable. It allows people to externalise experiences that have no language." She also explores how virtual reality and digital art are emerging as tools in psychedelic integration.

⏱ [00:26:38] – The SWIM Model: Psychedelic Integration Framework Introducing the SWIM Model, which stands for: Somatic work – grounding the body after psychedelic experiences Wisdom – drawing from philosophy, ethics, and reflection Interdependence – strengthening community ties Metacognition – developing critical thinking & self-awareness

⏱ [00:39:12] – Parenting & Consciousness Expansion As a mother of two, Dr. Roy shares how raising children in an open and aware environment shifts generational trauma. She describes children as: "The most psychedelic beings—naturally intuitive, creative, and free until the world teaches them otherwise."

⏱ [00:42:37] – Final Thoughts & Where to Connect Dr. Roy encourages those interested in psychedelic-assisted therapy, harm reduction, and ethical consciousness to connect via: https://thesignsoflife.com.au/

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💡 "Art gave me a sense of identity. It was the one place where I felt calm, understood, and at peace." – Annie Fox

In this inspiring episode of Active Creative Perspectives, host Valerie welcomes Annie Fox, a UK-trained art psychotherapist now based in Australia, to discuss the intersection of art, psychology, and spirituality in therapy. From overcoming neurodivergence through creativity to breaking down barriers in clinical and expressive therapies, this episode is a deep dive into the transformational power of art therapy.

🔹 Key Takeaways & Topics:

🕒 [00:01:04] – Discovering Art Therapy: Annie’s journey from struggling with dyslexia to finding her identity through art.

🕒 [00:03:47] – Art Therapy in the UK vs. Australia: Differences in clinical frameworks and the role of spirituality in healing.

🕒 [00:06:26] – Integrating Spirituality into Therapy: Why working with people close to death opened Annie’s approach to soul-centered therapy.

🕒 [00:08:41] – The Shift in Perspective: How embracing spirituality and connection to nature deepened her practice.

🕒 [00:11:33] – The Medical Model vs. Expressive Healing: Why modern mental health struggles with recognizing the power of art.

🕒 [00:15:20] – The Misunderstanding of Art Therapy: How the word “art” leads to misconceptions and the risks of unregulated trauma-informed practices.

🕒 [00:22:08] – Why Self-Expression Matters: "We would burst if we didn’t express ourselves"—art therapy as a release for unspoken emotions.

🕒 [00:27:29] – Annie’s Current Projects: Long-service leave, researching art therapy assessments, and launching a new art collective for art therapists.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

🎨 How art therapy differs in the UK vs. Australia

💫 The role of spirituality in healing and mental health

🖌️ Why self-expression is essential for emotional well-being

⚠️ The misconceptions & risks of unregulated trauma-informed practices

🎭 Annie’s mission to create a new art collective for art therapists

✨ If you’ve ever felt the need to express yourself but didn’t know how—this episode is for you!

#ArtTherapy #MentalHealthAwareness #CreativeHealing #ActiveKreative #SelfExpression #HealingThroughArt

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