About the academy
ICATEA is an Australian creative arts therapy education and study-abroad preparation service connecting interdisciplinary learning with real community practice.
Our practitioners, educators and international mentors help students understand the profession, build credible experience and prepare purposeful applications. We also support partner institutions with culturally informed outreach and clear student pathways.
Experience & connections
Our wider network connects academic learning with clinical, community and creative practice.
Certificate pathways
Eligible students can complete certificate-bearing workshops alongside portfolios, supervised practice and reflective evidence.
UNITAR · CIFAL Shanghai programme pathways
Navigation Theatre Level 1 is aligned with SDGs 3, 4, 10 and 16. Outdoor Therapeutic Practice is aligned with SDGs 3, 10 and 15. Subject to the issuing organisation's current terms, students who meet the relevant programme requirements may be eligible for the corresponding certificate.
Level Three workshop certificate pathway.
Learning evidence supporting dementia-aware community practice.
Certificate-bearing communication and development learning.
National Guild of Hypnotists learning pathways and supporting evidence.
Certificate availability depends on the selected programme, successful completion of its requirements and the issuing organisation's current terms.
China-region connection
Our China-region education network has held an official appointment to represent LASALLE College of the Arts in China, supporting applicant interviews and portfolio review. This experience informs focused, institution-aware preparation for creative applicants.
Appointment period shown in the official letter: 1 July 2025–30 June 2026. Current institutional arrangements are confirmed case by case.
Founder & Co-founder
ICATEA is led by two practitioners who bring together creative arts therapies, student development, education and long-term community practice.
Founder · Psychodrama & Student Development
An Australian registered counsellor and facilitator with extensive experience in applied psychodrama and more than six years of entrepreneurship in the psychology sector. David lectures within UNITAR and CIFAL Shanghai programme contexts and is undertaking a Master of Creative Arts Therapies, specialising in drama, at the University of Melbourne.
Co-founder · Dance Movement Therapy
A PACFA-registered psychotherapist and DTAA-registered dance movement therapist. Cindy holds master's degrees in Creative Arts Therapies and Education from the University of Melbourne and has taught or facilitated dance-based wellbeing programs with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Fudan University.
Full multidisciplinary team
International Mentor · Trauma-informed Practice
A University of Melbourne placement supervisor and DTAA-registered dance movement therapist with more than 30 years of bodywork and movement practice across four continents. Her trauma-informed, somatic approach integrates Eastern and Western perspectives on health and wellbeing.
Dance Movement Therapy
A Master of Creative Arts Therapies candidate in Dance Movement Therapy at the University of Melbourne, with dual majors in Visual Arts and Psychology from the University of Sydney. Ella brings a decade of study, work and life experience in Australia.
International Mentor · Dramatherapy
A University of Melbourne guest lecturer and registered dramatherapist affiliated with ANZACATA and PACFA. Natalie brings over a decade of experience across trauma, early-intervention psychosis, addiction, and child and adolescent mental health.
International Mentor · Applied Theatre
With 40 years of experience in the performing arts as teacher, actor, musician and director, Karen is a long-term member of Melbourne Playback Theatre Company and the Environmental Theatre Company, and has created award-winning shows with her company, Bowerbird Theatre. Her M.A. and PhD focussed on using site-specific theatre to investigate decolonialism.
International Mentor · Playback Theatre
An applied theatre practitioner, educator and Accredited Playback Theatre Trainer. Michael teaches internationally, mentors advanced Playback Theatre leaders, and serves as lead trainer for Singapore's SDEA CET Playback Theatre Academy. He holds an MA in Arts Education and Practice from Goldsmiths, University of London.
Applied Theatre & Playback Theatre
A theatre educator who has delivered thousands of drama, improvisation and applied-theatre sessions. Sean has trained in international Playback Theatre to Level Three and studied performance, role building and story construction with practitioners including Duke University faculty. He founded Huanxi Theatre and Guanxin Theatre Company.
Play Therapy & Expressive Arts
A Zhejiang Normal University Applied Psychology graduate with an MA in Educational Psychology and Counselling from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. Ivy has trained in play therapy, group dynamics and expressive arts, supported children's mental health practice at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, founded Play Theatre and completed international Playback Theatre Level Three training.
Registered Music Therapist · Music & Creative Arts
An Australian Registered Music Therapist (RMT) through the Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and a graduate of the University of Melbourne. A multi-instrumentalist with many years of experience in guitar performance, songwriting and live music, with experience across paediatric, adolescent mental health, aged care and disability settings. Uses creative, person-centred and strengths-based approaches to support clients through music, alongside experience supervising creative arts students and collaborating with various creative arts disciplines.
Music Wellbeing & Art Education
An education graduate of Shanghai Normal University, a children's music wellbeing practitioner recognised by the International Musicians Association, and a US National Guild of Hypnotists practitioner. Kris is the founder of Beitianyi Art Education.
Art Therapy & Illustration
A graduate of the School of Visual Arts with a BFA in Illustration and New York University with an MA in Art Therapy. Chenwei has completed more than 1,000 hours as an intern art therapist and brings nine years of study and life experience in the United States.
Clinical Art Therapy
An ANZACATA-registered art therapist with an MA in Art Therapy from LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, and an MA in Arts from Beijing Normal University. Hippo has practised in Singapore General Hospital and Anglican Community Services psychiatric rehabilitation settings.
Art Therapy & Multicultural Practice
Xiaoyu is an ANZACATA-certified art therapist and holds a Master of Art Therapy from LASALLE College of the Arts. With a Fine Arts background from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), she integrates artistic practice, psychology and art therapy to explore creativity as a medium for communication, expression and self-discovery. Through her clinical placement in a multicultural special education setting in Singapore, Xiaoyu gained extensive experience applying art-based approaches with diverse populations.
Clinical Counselling & Art Therapy
Lei is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Art Therapist in Canada. He holds a master's degree in Counselling Psychology: Art Therapy from Adler University and enjoys bringing inspiration and insight to others.
Global Mental Health & Outdoor Therapies
A National Health Commission psychotherapist and United Nations programme-certified instructor. Angelina studied Global Mental Health at King's College London and Outdoor Therapies at the University of the Highlands and Islands, with further training in phototherapy, counselling and psychotherapy. She has lived and studied across the UK, Japan, Italy and Africa.
Permaculture & Eco-art
A Permaculture Design Certificate holder and practitioner who brings ecological ethics and design principles into creative learning. Alex is a co-founder of Groundhog Urban Farm.
Counselling, Trauma & Special Education
A University of South Florida counselling graduate with school counselling and K–12 special education credentials in Florida, plus special education credentials in Taiwan. Baiguo is trained as a clinical trauma professional and in applied behaviour analysis.
Psychology & Social Innovation
A University of Virginia graduate in Psychology and Economics. Grace founded In-Between, selected by a US innovation incubator, and has led psychology work within an international development programme for Asian women. She is also the founder of Lovehub.
Art Coaching & Organisational Development
A postgraduate in Management Psychology from HKU Business School and a Tongji University graduate. Yuning is an ICF Associate Certified Coach, art and team coach, former strategy director, photographer, illustrator and Playback Theatre performer.
Sustainability & Ecological Design
An ESG sustainability and integrated ecological design planner, internationally certified permaculture designer and founder of Groundhog Farm City. Liufei connects environmental thinking with creative, community-based practice.
AI & Product Innovation
A Rice University Master of Computer Science graduate and senior product leader working across developer tools and artificial intelligence. Nick has contributed to the planning and delivery of GitHub Copilot and brings a decade of study and work experience in the United States.
Entrepreneurship & Wellbeing Practice
An entrepreneur with 19 years of experience across fashion, digital media, e-commerce and career coaching. Cici is a US National Guild of Hypnotists trainer, a UK Bach Centre flower remedy practitioner and an SRT practitioner.
INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY AND EDUCATION ACADEMY PTY LTD · ICATEA is the Australian division of Chenxin Healthcare Company & Chenyi International Education Consultancy.
Reach & social impact
A 15+ account media network reaching more than 45,000 specialist audiences.
Our media network connects students with creative arts therapy education across Xiaohongshu, WeChat Channels, Bilibili and Instagram. Our operating organisation became a member unit of the Shanghai Psychological Society's Community Mental Health and Development Professional Committee in 2023.
Profile figures reflect the supplied screenshots and may change over time.