Creativity and Care: Introducing Art Therapist and Illustrator Kirrili Lonergan
- admin91478
- Sep 9
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 10
Kirrili Lonergan is a Newcastle-based art therapist, picture book illustrator, and former paediatric nurse who brings creativity and compassion into every space she holds. With a deep understanding of children's emotional worlds, she uses art as a gentle, expressive tool to help clients—both young and adult—explore feelings, manage anxiety, and reconnect with themselves. Kirrili is the illustrator and co-creator of the beloved Lessons of a LAC series, which supports children in understanding and managing worry through storytelling and visual tools. At The Base Health, she facilitates weekly group art therapy sessions for teens and adults, offering a nurturing environment for self-expression and emotional growth.
Your journey has taken you from paediatric nursing to art therapy and illustration. What inspired this transition, and how do these roles complement each other?
I have always been drawn to a career that nurtures and helps others. As a paediatric nurse, I enjoyed being part of a child’s journey back to wellness, both physically and emotionally, as well as supporting the family. My transition into picture book illustration began when I had my four children. I began to read more and appreciate the art of storytelling and had the opportunity to create art at home. I learnt through my personal art experience that creating art is a therapeutic process and allows for emotional release. There is nothing more satisfying than creating a world through the eyes of a child! From there, I discovered art therapy. In a holistic rather than a patient-centred way I was able to use my skills to help people to create and heal. As a paediatric nurse we learn to identify emotional distress and as an art therapist we work with processing those emotions.
Art therapy can be a powerful tool for emotional expression. How do you see it benefiting individuals who might struggle with traditional talk therapy?
Art therapy allows people to express themselves in both verbal and non-verbal ways. Through participating in a creative process or reflecting on the artwork itself it helps people to discover more about their inner self. Through sensory engagement the artwork itself can be a powerful vehicle that allows people to relax and at times feel comfortable to talk. It can feel like it is from a distance without feeling that they are engaging directly. Art therapy can be particularly beneficial for children, neurodivergent clients and those suffering from past trauma or speech difficulties, where expressing complex emotions using words may be difficult.
The Lessons of a LAC series has resonated with many. Can you share how the collaboration with Lynn Jenkins came about and what impact you've seen from this work?
Lessons of a LAC is a series that came about through a joint passion for early intervention and improving children’s mental health. Lynn Jenkins and I met through our children and decided in 2014 to collaborate and publish our first title Lessons of a LAC. From there schools took an interest in the book which has now rolled out into a five-book series and an anxiety management program for schools and early learning centres. Lynn and I are always striving to produce resource tool picture books that help to manage current and topical issues that can be used in various health care settings. Next month we are visiting schools in the Sydney and Wollongong areas, and we are always excited to share what we do with educators and children. Through our books, puppets and a variety of visual aids we have educated many children and left them with a toolbelt of strategies to manage their BIG and little ‘worries’.
In your group sessions at The Base Health, what themes or activities do you find most effective in helping participants explore their emotions?
In group we explore many different mediums and topics and participants are given the opportunity to enjoy the process of artmaking, talk about anything that may come up for them and to explore their artwork further if they wish. I feel activities that help to increase their flexibility skills and build on self-confidence work well. Working on activities that require them to be ‘in the moment’ has helped clients to build regulation skills as well as having a calming effect. They are especially good for individuals suffering from anxiety, ADHD or PTSD. Clients are offered an activity but can choose to work in a different medium if they prefer. Themes can be part of the art directive and are often client driven. Some reoccurring themes are self-confidence, managing worries, self-compassion and goal setting.
For someone new to art therapy, what can they expect from a session with you? Do they need any prior artistic experience?
A new client can expect a small group and a place that invites expression without pressure, in a safe and nurturing environment. I provide a gentle and intuitive path to healing that respects the pace and needs of those that may not be ready to talk. To me, it is all about the process, so no artistic expertise is required. Most clients find that they grow in artistic ability just by taking on new creative challenges and stepping out of their comfort zone. I am all about flexibility so clients are given guidance and the choice of what mediums they would like to use. I feel that offering the client a choice gives them a sense of agency which can be deeply therapeutic, whether it be paint, clay, collage or another medium.
Your illustrations are known for their warmth and relatability. How does your work as an illustrator influence your approach to therapy, and vice versa?
Great question! As an illustrator I am able to experience the benefits of creating art and expressing myself visually, so I can understand and relate to how powerful creating art can be for your body and mind. This in turn, has helped to drive my passion for art therapy. When creating a picture book I like to play with colour, style and textures to enhance the message in the stories as well as convey emotions. I also go deeper into the text and it’s themes and visually communicate other factors that help convey a message to a child. For example, I may add an animal, a pet, to the story to mimic the emotions of the protagonist to help enhance the emotions in those scenes. As a therapist, I am able to share not only my physical illustration skills but also the strategies within our books.
You've worked extensively with children and families. What common challenges do you see, and how does art therapy address them?
Anxiety and emotional regulation difficulties are common. Working with children to identify what emotions look and feel like can be achieved in art therapy. Moving on to introduce emotion-based activities as well as calming art activities can help children with dealing with BIG emotions. Something as simple as watercolour art can be very soothing or ‘calming’ for a child just blending and seeing what ‘comes out’. Trauma and PTSD are also common. Offering a child a medium that helps to ground them is effective. It helps them to feel safe and connected to their bodies and their surroundings. Allowing the child to choose their medium also helps to offer safety and control. Children love to move paint around with their fingertips and to mould clay to form objects.
How do you incorporate the principles from the Lessons of a LAC series into your therapeutic practices?
The principles throughout the series of Lessons of a LAC deal with many topics such as general anxiety, starting new situations, low mood, perfectionism and dealing with loss. Although the books are aimed at children the principles are
also the same for adults. When working with general anxiety ‘Awareness’ of different feelings and recognising different emotions is an important first step to managing them. ‘Breathing ‘ in a way that calms our nervous system and learning to pause before reacting can be taught through different art activities. The power of ‘choosing’ to send ‘Curly’ or positive self-talk is also important in managing anxious feelings. Reinforcing these messages in art activities helps children to learn this practice and can be a great skill for early intervention. Dealing with perfectionism and how we see things can be better understood when working on various art activities and nurturing a child to understand how things feel a certain way when we think a certain way is also important. We can do this in the way we look at our artwork and the way in which we react to the process when creating art.
What advice would you give to parents or caregivers looking to support their children's emotional well-being through creative means?
My advice is to give it a go, to come with an open mind and give it a chance. I believe that an individual benefits from therapies that feel ‘right for them.’ It is safe and judgement free and it’s about creating a space for expression, connection and regulation. If they come and make a mess, explore freedom and build confidence and it feels right for them then they are benefiting.
Looking ahead, are there any new projects or initiatives you're excited about that combine your passions for art, therapy, and storytelling?
I am currently working on a project that combines all three, writing and illustrating a book that helps children develop self-confidence. This is exciting, fingers crossed! Lessons of a LAC is bringing out a new series. The first three titles are addressing the topics of managing anger, learning to go with the flow and encouraging kindness.
