Coordinated Space Art Therapy is a heart-centred practice in Christchurch dedicated to supporting the emotional wellbeing of first-time migrant mothers-to-be. Founded by art therapist Nuraishah Abdullah, the practice combines art and talk therapy to help women navigate identity changes, cultural transition and the often unspoken emotional challenges of early motherhood. With a gentle, culturally attuned approach, Coordinated Space offers a nurturing environment where mothers can reconnect with themselves, gain resilience and feel seen through one of life’s most transformative times. Here, Nuraishah talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind her business, her biggest discovery, how she balances work and family time and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to create your business?
I have been in the helping professions and in the mental health field since 2005. I was aiming to build a career as a counselor and what better way to gain first-hand experience and guidance than to dedicate my time and dedication to full-time employment. Over the years in many workplaces, I learned the value of grit, teamwork and managing different hats as expected of an employee.
The pivotal moment that changed my perspective and fueled the courage to be my own boss came after I moved to Christchurch in August 2023. I decided to turn job rejections and radio silence into an opportunity to strike out on my own. I longed to do the work I am passionate about – helping others on their mental health journey through art and talk therapy. Inspired by my master’s thesis topic, I went into private practice and lovingly registered my business as Attuned Space Art Therapy.
The launch: How did you get started in the first place?
Oh, it wasn’t easy! One thing I didn’t learn from school and work experience was how to build a business. I had to figure it out quickly and familiarize myself with how things are done in this country. In addition, I also struggled with moments of grieving the loss of being away from home and the connections I had been blessed with.
Maybe one of the things that helped me, apart from relying on my faith, was knowing that all I could do was pick myself up, put one foot in front of the other and keep going. I looked for resources that could help me in my business, including networking with others in and outside of my industry. They are so generous with their knowledge and skills, they have directly and indirectly enabled me to confidently open my doors to my first clients. Forever grateful as beyond that, some of them have become part of my tribe now.
Innovation: What has been the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
I began seeing adults seeking support for issues such as grief, loss, stress and trauma. While this somewhat allowed me to start seeing clients, I hit a roadblock as I struggled to market myself more effectively. As it is, I am not familiar with managing the business side of things, which includes how to promote myself and the art therapy service. There is a steep learning curve, for sure!
Fortunately, earlier this year I took the opportunity to run a parent-child art therapy workshop at Te Matatiki Toi Ora (The Arts Centre), which went incredibly well (the workshop was sold out!). From this experience and with the guidance of my business coach, I took the time to ask myself some key questions: What was that sweet spot that I wanted to dive into? What can I offer that is meaningful and supportive of the mental health situation here in New Zealand?
After some brainstorming, I realized my ideal client. I feel even more engaged now, knowing that the practice I’m building is focused on supporting first-time immigrant-to-be who struggle with feelings of loss and confusion but dream of reconnecting with themselves so they can emerge authentically into their own version of motherhood here in New Zealand. I’m really excited to hear from others in my network – that they believe my work can transform moms out there.
For me, being able to resonate with a scope of practice that defines who I am and what I’m passionate about in my business is an amazing discovery, especially being self-employed.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I was lucky that balancing work and family was something I was already practicing in Singapore. Both my husband and I are firm believers that there is always a time and place for everything we commit to, whether it be personal or professional. We overturned that belief when we immigrated here and in a way, we’re very blessed that the culture here is even more supportive to make that sustainable.
I plan my daily life with time segments dedicated to the roles I play. For example, between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., that would be my mom’s role, preparing my kids’ school lunches and cooking meals for the day. Depending on my husband’s ability to work from home, I will put on my therapist hat and see clients during school or regular office hours. If I don’t have clients, then those hours are dedicated to tasks such as attending further training hours or covering business matters. I also keep my evening sessions to a minimum.
Additionally, we find it helpful to know our own love language. Muhammad is all about spending quality time together. So every week, we do fun activities as a family on Friday nights and one of the weekend days, like singing karaoke, watching movies, coffee shops, and nice walks. Essentially, what works for us is having a routine that we enjoy and that fills our cup.
