She Spoke in Silence with Guest Melisa Western

In this episode of the She Served AU Podcast, I am honoured to introduce our very first guest, the extraordinary Melisa Western — artist, trauma-informed coach, and a woman doing deeply meaningful work in the space of healing through creative practice.

Melisa’s work focuses on supporting survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and sexual violence (SV) through art. 

Her approach is thoughtful, compassionate, and grounded in the belief that creativity can open doors to healing when words alone are not enough. For many survivors, art becomes a language of its own — a way to process experiences, reclaim voice, and reconnect with self.

During this conversation we talk about the power of creative expression, the importance of safe spaces for veterans and survivors, and why trauma-informed art practice matters. Melisa shares insights into her process, the people she works with, and the impact that creative healing can have for those navigating life after trauma.

I am incredibly proud that Melisa has joined She Served AU as our Artist in Residence for the She Spoke in Silence project — an initiative designed to create supportive art-based spaces for women who served. Her work is already making waves, and she is absolutely a name to watch in this field.

This episode is also a heartfelt thank you to Melisa for being the very first voice to step into the She Served AU podcast space. Her generosity, wisdom, and commitment to helping others shine through every part of this conversation.

If you would like to learn more about Melisa and her work, you can visit her website:

www.melisawesterndesign.art 

Thank you for listening and for supporting the stories, voices, and creative healing journeys of those who served.

Transcript

Natasha Hilbers 0:13

Hello and welcome. I'm Natasha Hilbers and this is the She Served AU podcast, trigger warning.

Natasha Hilbers 0:19

This is a space where we name MST military sexual trauma, SV, sexual violence, and DV, domestic violence. If any of these topics are triggering for you, please take time, find space, come back when you're ready, or not at all. But if you do need help, please do reach out to the following organisations. The Open Arms from Department of Veteran Affairs, Lifeline, or the Amazing Anthena Project for Survivors. Their contact details are in the notes below.

Natasha Hilbers 0:52

Also, I'd like to acknowledge the traditional landowners on which I live and are recording today, the Nunga people of the Wandari Nation, and I respectfully acknowledge the traditional landowners past, present, and emerging. And I'd like to offer my respects by treading softly and listening deeply.

Natasha Hilbers 1:16

So find a comfy spot, relax, and this is the She Served AU podcast, and I'm Natasha Hilbers. Hello and welcome. This is the She Served AU podcast. I'm Natasha Hilbers. This is episode two, She Spoke in Silence. So today I'd like to welcome Melisa Weston, an incredible artist and an amazing trauma-informed trauma-aware coach, and to talk about our upcoming workshop for She Spoke in Silence. So today, welcome Melisa.

Melisa Western 1:50

Thanks, Natasha, for having me here. It is an absolute honour to be a part of this project. And thank you so much for that intro.

Natasha Hilbers 1:58

You're most welcome. So tell me a little bit about yourself. I'm very curious.

Melisa Western 2:03

Well, I've been an artist most of my life. Um also material designer. I've I've also was diagnosed with PTSD. Now, I started to do some courses just to do my own therapy in trauma. And I realized after using a different approach that I would like to take the word disorder out of PTSD. So let's not have any Ds. Because as I'm aware, is trauma comes from within your nervous system. And it's something that we've all the majority of humans beings have felt trauma at some stage of their life.

Melisa Western 2:46

Now I see it as an adaptation, not a disorder, because we can heal. And through art, I find is an amazing way to express yourself without having to tell your story constantly and relive your trauma, which is what I've had to do over many months. It's easier to feel less pressured to get your feelings out expressive. Now that can be through painting, sculpting. In all arts, you might want to express yourself through dance, you might want to express yourself through music. It's it's just a way of healing.

Melisa Western 3:30

So I see it as the four F's. Okay, so there's always there's fight. So this is our survival mode. So there's fight, flight, freeze, form. Yeah. The most problem that that that people have with trauma is they don't get do the full circle. So they they come across, so they of course you've got to fight. That's a survival instinct. You fight. And then it's flight, so you run. Then all of a sudden you freeze because you you you just stop, because that's just happened. And that's where your your trauma starts to you know get with inside you, and you know, you might find it hard to breathe, think clearly. We don't often get to fawn. So we don't do a complete circle, so we're not healing. We need to fawn. Okay, so take for instance, just an example. So there's a gazelle in the desert. There's a lion stalking the gazelle. The girls the gazelle's just sitting there eating grass as a gazelle does. Okay, the lion pounces. So of course it's it's fight mode, you know, so then it then it runs around, okay? So with the gazelle, it'll keep running and until the t the line tires out.

Natasha Hilbers 4:55

Yes.

Melisa Western 4:56

That's its survival. Just keep running and tire out the line. But then as soon as that line's gone, the thre the threat's gone, the gazelle will go straight back to eating grass again. It's gone. It's now born. Yes. So through art, I find it is one of the most even if you look, even if you've never picked up a paintbrush before, or even a pencil, there is no rules to art. That is the beauty of it. Yes. It it doesn't matter what you put on that canvas. The fact that you just pick up that paintbrush and put that paint on that canvas is the first step. And then you just feel it. Yeah. And it's like sculpturing. So yeah, it's um art is an amazing tool to have to help heal trauma.

Natasha Hilbers 5:47

That's incredible. Wow, sorry. Just you it you need sometimes take a moment to come to those thoughts.

Natasha Hilbers 5:54

So, what could participants expect when they come to the class?

Natasha Hilbers 5:59

What what's the feel? What's the expectation? And what will they leave with? Like what is it? What do you what do you have?

Melisa Western 6:05

The first thing that needs to happen is for them to feel safe.

Melisa Western 6:09

Yes. Because that is the most important part of our lives is to feel safe. So, you know, some people might feel safe with a memory.

Natasha Hilbers 6:20

Yeah.

Melisa Western 6:21

A memory of I don't know, maybe at their grandparents' house playing, you know. Yeah. Or a song could make them feel safe. So the most important is that I make a safe space. And the safe space is basic it's everyone who's there will feel will feel it. You know, because we've all been through trauma. And once there's an understanding that everyone there has gone through trauma, even myself and yourself, that you know, we come together and it doesn't feel it feels like you're part of a family. And it's a lot of fun. I make it a lot of fun.

Natasha Hilbers 7:02

You are a lot of fun.

Melisa Western 7:04

I like to put music to art as well. So it's just making everyone feel calm.

Melisa Western 7:11

No one has to talk about their trauma if they don't want to. But if one does bring it up, I'm there to listen and I'm there to talk through it with them as well. So they're more than happy to, if it's on their mind, something's bothering them, by all means. You can talk. I'm there to listen. You know, if um I just I just want I just want them to be able to find that happy, safe place. Making the feeling of doing something yourself and accomplishing your own piece of artwork is amazing. Yeah it makes you feel so much better in yourself.

Melisa Western 7:53

You know, you you walk out with a piece that you can be really proud of. And I'm there to help. Yes. I don't want anyone panicking. Everyone will leave with a finished piece of artwork. Yeah. I try not to touch anyone's canvases or or sculpturing, but if they're there and they need my help, of course I will help them.

Natasha Hilbers 8:14

That's awesome.

Melisa Western 8:15

But it's nice just to be in that atmosphere. You know, you can have a drink, a bite to eat, get up, move around, see what everyone else is doing. It's just it's just a nice feeling to be around people that understand why sometimes you suffer anxiety. Sometimes you can't explain the words that they just don't come out right.

Natasha Hilbers 8:36

Yeah.

Melisa Western 8:36

And it's okay to be angry. It's okay to feel angry. There's nothing wrong with feeling angry. It's healthy. Yes. It's it's like if um, you know, we've all got to be angry at sometimes, but it just means you're standing up for yourself. Wow. So no means no. Yes, correct. Don't be afraid to say no. It's most important. It's okay to be angry.

Natasha Hilbers 8:59

Wow.

Melisa Western 9:00

It's not okay to put shame on yourself though.

Natasha Hilbers 9:03

Yeah. And holding that space.

Melisa Western 9:05

Very much so.

Natasha Hilbers 9:06

What do you think about the initiative of She Spoke in Silence?

Natasha Hilbers 9:11

How do you see this fitting into the veteran community?

Natasha Hilbers 9:14

Do you you see value for it?

Melisa Western 9:16

Oh, I see a lot of value for it.

Natasha Hilbers 9:18

Yeah.

Melisa Western 9:18

I mean, I've never been in in military, you know. I could only imagine you know what you must see and do and experience, you know, in the army, in the navy, you know, even the police force, anything to do, you know, there's so much trauma, like they would see so much and witness so many awful, horrific things. Yes. Which of course is traumatic.

Melisa Western 9:49

So I believe that if anyone is going to get a lot out of this, it's going to be ones who have not just suffered one little bit of trauma, but have have seen a lot of trauma and have felt a lot of trauma within themselves. Um I just see it as just a great benefit, like just for them personally, yeah. Just to, instead of, you know, as you say, you know, she spoke in silence. And that's what we're trying to achieve. You know, that you can still express yourself. You can tell, you can show how angry you are or how upset you are, or you know, how you're feeling right now through the art.

Natasha Hilbers 10:31

Yes.

Melisa Western 10:32

And you take that with you.

Natasha Hilbers 10:33

Yes. My really heartfelt perspective on all of this is around how like a picture paints a thousand words, but to be able to take an emotion and put it outside of myself, to be able to say, this felt terrible, and there's a lot of other very cautious words I might not say right now, but this felt terrible, and to put it into clay, and to give that emotion and physically put it out of my hand into something else is profound.

Natasha Hilbers 11:09

And like sculpting, I personally have found so therapeutic, but you you've captured it in its essence that you know we have these things inside us, and then the ability to take it outside of us is profound, and like I'm I'm just so excited to be sharing this.

Natasha Hilbers 11:25

I'm excited to be sharing our artist in residence, Melisa Weston, in the She Spoke in Silence project under the She Served AU umbrella. It's exciting.

Natasha Hilbers 11:34

So the first She Spoken Silence class is coming up, and Melisa is the amazing artist in residence for this project, and we're hoping to have many more.

Natasha Hilbers 11:46

The dates and times will be in the notes below, but for now, I cannot thank Melisa Weston enough and her amazing experience and abilities to bring this to fruition. So, yeah, are there any last words, Melisa, that you'd like to share before we close out?

Melisa Western 12:04

I would like to say thank you so much for your initiative for what you are doing.

Melisa Western 12:10

And to bring me on board is an absolute honour.

Natasha Hilbers 12:14

Thank you.

Melisa Western 12:15

I couldn't think of a better project to be a part of.

Natasha Hilbers 12:18

Oh thank you. You're most welcome. I couldn't think of a better artist, to be honest. I'm so excited.

Natasha Hilbers 12:24

And again, if any of these topics have brought up distress feelings, please reach out. There's um a list of um service providers, but the main one that I advocate for is the Anthena Project Australia. Their contact details will be in the notes below.

Natasha Hilbers 12:41

Today has been a heavy topic, but I just want to let people listening today to know that there's light at the end of the tunnel and there's projects out there that can help and that you're not alone. Thank you for listening today. This is Natasha Hilvers of the She Served AU podcast. This is episode two, She Spoke in Silence. And stay safe and forge on the