Our operating organisation became a member unit of the Shanghai Psychological Society's Community Mental Health Development Professional Committee in 2023.
& Education Academy
Experience & connections
Grounded in real learning environments.
Our wider network connects academic learning with clinical, community and creative practice.
Selected workshops provide UNITAR and CIFAL Shanghai programme certificates and other recognised professional learning evidence.
Documented China-region admissions representation experience supporting interviews and portfolio review for LASALLE College of the Arts.
Portfolio-ready projects, reflective learning and structured internship experiences aligned with overseas study preparation.
Certificate pathways
Recognised outcomes that make learning visible.
Eligible students can complete certificate-bearing workshops alongside portfolios, supervised practice and reflective evidence.
UNITAR · CIFAL Shanghai programme pathways
United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-aligned learning.
Navigation Theatre Level 1 is aligned with SDGs 3, 4, 10 and 16. Outdoor Therapeutic Practice is aligned with SDGs 3, 10 and 15. Students who complete the relevant programme requirements can receive the corresponding certificate.
03 Good health04 Quality education10 Reduced inequalities15 Life on land16 Peace & inclusion
Playback Theatre
Level Three workshop certificate pathway.
Dementia Champion
Qualification supporting dementia-aware community practice.
Youth Effectiveness Training
Certificate-bearing communication and development learning.
Professional practice
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.
Institutional pathway experienceLASALLE College of the ArtsUniversity of the Arts Singapore
China-region connection
Admissions insight shaped by direct LASALLE representation experience.
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.
Practice in motion
Learning happens through making, moving and meeting others.
Students develop professional understanding through facilitated workshops, reflective creative work and community-based experience. These environments make space for curiosity, collaboration and the careful observation of human connection.
Explore practice-led services
What we deliver
From first exploration to a confident, practice-ready applicant.
Our model combines assessment, guided learning, creative production and real-world practice. Each pathway is adapted to the student and the expectations of their chosen institution.
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Portfolio competitiveness
A focused pathway that turns creative experience into a coherent, reflective and distinctive application portfolio for international study.
View servicePractice capability
Supervised, feedback-rich experience in community, education, performance and self-directed workshop settings.
View serviceCareer capability & professional direction
Structured planning for professional positioning, project development, workplace readiness and a sustainable direction beyond study.
View service4-pillarDevelopment model
1-to-1Portfolio guidance
Practice-ledWorkshops and internships
Global facultyAustralia, Asia, UK and US experience
Student journey
Structured support, with room for an individual voice.
Students are encouraged to make informed decisions, take ownership of their practice and develop the independent learning capacity required by leading international programs.
Discuss a pathway- 01Assess
Capability review, goals, fit and personalised planning.
- 02Learn
Creative arts therapies foundations and interdisciplinary electives.
- 03Practise
Projects, workshops, internships and reflective supervision.
- 04Articulate
Portfolio, application narrative and interview readiness.
- 05Progress
Admissions coordination and long-term career development.
Founder & Co-founder
Leadership grounded in practice.
ICATEA is led by two practitioners who bring together creative arts therapies, student development, education and long-term community practice.
Founder · Psychodrama & Student Development
David Gu
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
Cindy Tan
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.
International mentors
Four disciplines, one commitment to practice.
International Mentor · Trauma-informed Practice
Anjali Sengupta
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.
International Mentor · Dramatherapy
Natalie Mackenzie
A University of Melbourne guest lecturer and registered dramatherapist affiliated with ANZACATA and the British Association of Dramatherapists. Natalie brings over a decade of experience across trauma, early-intervention psychosis, addiction, and child and adolescent mental health.
International Mentor · Applied Theatre
Johnnie Jablonka
A community development and applied theatre practitioner with 40 years of experience facilitating individual and group learning. Johnnie works with Theatre of the Oppressed, Playback Theatre, music, embodied empathy and deep listening to build inclusive connection across cultures and abilities.
International Mentor · Playback Theatre
Michael Cheng
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.
Full multidisciplinary team
Different disciplines, shared responsibility.
Angelina
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.
Chenwei
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.
Kris
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.
Ella
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.
Hippo
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.
Alex
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.
Baiguo
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.
Sean
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.
Grace
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.
Yuning
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.
Liufei
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.
Nick
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.
Ivy
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.
Cici
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.
Xiaoyu
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.
Lei
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.
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© 2026 ICATEAINTERNATIONAL 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.
ICATEA operates more than 15 specialist accounts across Xiaohongshu, WeChat Channels, Bilibili, Instagram and other social platforms. Together, this media network reaches more than 45,000 highly relevant followers and prospective clients. Each month, it brings potential students interested in diverse creative arts therapy pathways, including dance movement therapy, art therapy, dramatherapy and music therapy. This professional online reach is reinforced by our operating organisation's membership in the Shanghai Psychological Society's Community Mental Health and Development Professional Committee.
Profile figures reflect the supplied screenshots and may change over time.