Julia byrne

Arts and Child Therapist

Julia Byrne grew up in Hong Kong and holds a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy from Florida State University in the US. She has been dedicated to pioneering Art Psychotherapy and Art Therapy in Hong Kong since 1995, working with local organizations, NGOs, the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, and a wide variety of client groups, including children. Children are easily drawn to making art and other expressive means as natural forms of communication innate in our human development.

Based on deep belief in the importance of the body-mind-emotion connection, Julia works with individual clients and groups using the arts to strengthen intra-interpersonal connections, forge alternative paths for self-expression, expand play range, express emotions, discover personal strengths, and problem-solve through the creative process. She strives to provide a safe, engaging, and contained space for this to happen.

Julia is especially drawn to working with children with special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), developmental disabilities, ADHD, and Down Syndrome. She has extensive experience with children on the Autism Spectrum, as well as children with intellectual challenges, having conducted training programs and carried out social adaptive and emotional training research since 2007.

Julia is the founding president of The Hong Kong Association of Art Therapists (HKAAT) and a lead developer and instructor in Art Facilitation. She holds the post of lecturer and academic advisor for The University of Hong Kong Expressive Arts Therapy Program at The Centre for Behavioral Health (CBH). Julia is a registered member of the Australian and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA).