Meet Devinia Wainwright , the owner of Mara Lama Art Therapies, Gascoyne, WA
Meet Devinia, the owner of Mara Lama Art Therapies in Gascoyne, Western Australia. She is a specialised therapist and has recently launched her counselling, wellness and therapy business in May, 2023. In her practice, she focuses on providing counselling to empower youth in making positive life choices. 
She also works with both adults and young individuals dealing with substance abuse, helping them bring about positive changes in their lives. Additionally, she offers therapy to clients facing mild mental health issues, depression, and anxiety.
“In the future, my main goal is to make therapies available to people in remote areas of the country. There are many individuals who need help but don’t have accessible therapists nearby or can’t afford therapy. I want to bridge that gap and provide support to those who truly need it. Helping others and making a positive difference in their lives has always been my passion, and I’ll keep working towards achieving this goal.”
Read more about Devinia’s business journey so far:
Devinia’s Business
What is your business? How long has the business been operating?
My business is all about providing health and wellness counselling and therapies to those who need it the most. Helping people in need has always been my passion because I truly believe it can make a positive difference in their lives. I noticed that there weren’t enough accessible therapy options available, especially in remote areas. That’s why I decided to open my own space and offer affordable options to those who can’t afford expensive counselling sessions.
In my practice, I focus on providing counselling to empower youth in making positive life choices. I also work with both adults and young individuals dealing with substance abuse, helping them bring about positive changes in their lives. Additionally, I offer therapy to clients facing mild mental health issues, depression, and anxiety.
My approach includes various art therapies like sensory motor art therapy, which uses soft pastel crayons to release blocked energy and regulate emotions. I also use clay therapy to reduce anxiety and emotional freedom tapping (EFT) to reset the nervous system and address issues like PTSD and fear of flying.
Working with Many Rivers
Before contacting Many Rivers, I was working in a private school and for the government for some time. A friend of mine from Broome referred me to Many Rivers last year in 2001 and then I decided to contact them to receive small business coaching.
The support I received from Many Rivers has been invaluable. As I don’t have any family members with business experience, having Many Rivers by my side has made a significant difference. They provided encouragement, helped me create a business plan, and offered plenty of ideas. The business plan, in particular, was incredibly helpful. They kept in regular contact, motivated me, and provided guidance on cash flows. They also recommended using Zoho for invoicing, which has been a game-changer.
Having Many Rivers’ friendly and supportive guidance has reduced the struggles I faced as a sole business owner. Their advice and assistance have helped me stay organised and focused on my goals. Without them, I would have still been struggling to find my way.
Yes, I did get a loan from Many Rivers, and it was a great help. I used the loan to acquire resources, equipment, and insurance needed for my business. It played a crucial role in setting up my practice and getting it off the ground. There are still some areas where I could use a little help, especially with the website.
Do you have any current employees?
Currently, it’s just me running the business. I dedicate two days a week to my therapy practice and work three days elsewhere.
Biggest Challenge
The biggest challenge to date has been working with government departments, particularly when it took a whole year to get my registration for working with children. It was quite a challenging process due to it being lengthy and slow.
Secondly, since I just started my business, I’m still catching up financially. While there have been some cash flows coming in but I’m investing it back into the business. Job satisfaction and positive feedback from my clients keep me motivated despite the financial challenges.
Biggest Success
On the other hand, one of my biggest successes has been securing a contract with Ngilla to work on the 120 project. I’ll be providing counselling and therapy as part of this project for the next 12 months, and I’m thrilled about this meaningful opportunity. I think for me, positive feedback on the work I do does make a difference as it allows me to feel proud of myself for bringing a positive change in the lives of others. That’s the job satisfaction for me and the motivation that helps me to keep moving forward.
Biggest Change
I just started so I am still doing bit of a catch up with my business skills. I am trying to one step at a time to slowly understand what I can offer through my business and what my clients need the most. I feel by running my own business, I feel more empowered and in control of my life now. However, financially I am still relying on my school job so there hasn’t been much change in that aspect.
Future Goals
In the future, my main goal is to make therapies available to people in remote areas of the country. There are many individuals who need help but don’t have accessible therapists nearby or can’t afford therapy. I want to bridge that gap and provide support to those who truly need it. Helping others and making a positive difference in their lives has always been my passion, and I’ll keep working towards achieving this goal.
My dream is to have my own space where people can come for counselling and therapy, making it accessible and affordable to everyone in need.
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