Iris Whitelock
I help women aged 40+ to re-connect with themselves and their innate creativity (however that is expressed). Together we work to get their lives back on track and find an authentic way for them to make a contribution to their world. Through my business, Art of Life Coaching, I offer small group and one-to-one Life Purpose coaching (supported by transpersonal art therapy) in person and online. I believe each one of us is a spiritual being and we need to learn how to embody and express this so that we can live the potential we were born with. I see this potential in my clients and it’s my intention to hold space for them to bring it into their awareness and realize it in the world.
My experience of spiritual emergence:
I experienced depression in my late twenties, and then again in my late thirties after the birth of my second child. On both occasions, I experienced confusion, lack of purpose, and overwhelm. Over time, I came to understand this as the gift of spiritual emergence which unfolded over many years, opening me up to the creativity I had undervalued and ignored for decades. In 2015 I established my own coaching and art therapy business where I help my clients to identify and integrate their experience of spiritual emergence(y).
My work experience includes coaching and mentoring small-business owners, one-to-one art therapy sessions at GROW (a peer-supported mental health recovery organization), and running community art projects with people who have experienced significant life crises (grief, loss, loved ones with dementia). This included refugee groups and trauma survivors, migrants affected by HIV/AIDS, and women prison inmates.
I was a program coordinator for Notre Dame University (Perth) School of Medicine for 3 years. In recent one-to-one coaching, I have worked with a variety of creatives/people in the arts and understand the pressures of those work environments, having worked in the theatre industry for several years.
Language Spoken
Fluent in English; can speak some German and French
Academic Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Theatre Arts, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
- Advanced Diploma in Arts Management, Western Australian Institute of Performing Arts, at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia
- Advanced Diploma in Transpersonal Art Therapy, Ikon Institute, Western Australia
Other Relevant Training
- Between 2017 and 2022, I completed several online courses with The Institute of Women-Centred Coaching, USA, including 2-year Coaching and Facilitation certification courses with Dr Claire Zammit.
- I am an ongoing member of Craig Hamilton’s meditation program, The Awakened Life.
- For 29 years I have been an active member, and more recently a tutor, at the School of Practical Philosophy, Perth branch, Western Australia. The School follows a lineage of teachers in Advaita philosophy, applying the wisdom from many traditions to our modern daily lives, and teaching spiritual practices that include mindfulness and meditation.
- Emma Bragdon’s introductory course How to Effectively Support Someone in Spiritual Emergency. Since then, I have been active in our local Spiritual Emergence group led by Louise Mustard, based in Perth, Western Australia.
- In the 1980’s I trained as a breathwork/rebirthing practitioner, and practiced Reiki (Level 1) and remedial (Swedish) massage.
- In the 1990’s I worked as a mentor and executive coach for small to medium business CEO’s in Perth, Western Australia.
- I have also attended a two-day ASIST Suicide intervention training program.
Offering 1-1 support
One-to-one coaching is not offered. My qualifications apply in Australia, but I am not a member of any certifying boards for art therapy or coaching. I therefore cannot offer 1-1 spiritual emergence support.
Offering support groups
No support groups are offered at this time.