Rainbow Muse

Chenai Mupotsa-Russell (She/Her) is the Founder and Co-director of Rainbow Muse Clinic, an art therapist, child psychotherapist, neurodiversity researcher and consultant, yoga teacher and Chief Shenanigans officer. She founded Rainbow Muse in 2019 following her dream to establish a magical therapeutic safe space where people who do not like, or fit into “boxes” could feel seen, heard and valued while on their mental health journey. Rainbow Muse Clinic is based in Ferntree Gully but Chenai sees children and adults from her new therapy studio at YREC by appointment. 

Chenai is passionate about diversity and intersectionality and specialises in working with LGBTQAI+ people, neurodivergent people and BIPOC populations.  “I aim to provide a safe, inclusive, affirming and culturally appropriate space for processing, with a social justice lens that puts into perspective the individual and complex experiences of people "outside the box" – this is the reason Rainbow Muse was born!” she says.

Captivated by Warburton during a visit in 2023 Chenai and her partner found themselves compelled to buy a house and make the township their home. “It was all decided over a weekend. I just knew it was for us, and we needed to be here. I never wanted to leave so when I started looking for rooms I could work from, YREC came up in a Google search,” she says. “I love it and I’ve enjoyed putting my own heart and soul into my room. I take a community-based approach to wellbeing, so its perfect to be in a setting where we can be part of life. “

“When working with all people, I am most passionate about the use of therapeutic arts practice and my PhD research is in within community and liberation psychology. I am a late diagnosed audher and proudly embrace my own neurodivergence in work. I don't seek to change others, only to support humans to thrive as they are.”

With a multidisciplinary approach, Chenai also leads a team of whimsical caring therapists who share in the dream. She believes that lived experience always trumps academic learning, and is committed to supporting, protecting, learning from, and empowering people from the bottom up. She works with an intersectional lens running a decolonial, de-pathologising and neuro-affirming space on Wurundjeri Land. 

At YREC, Chenai has created a woman-owned, safe and inclusive practice where all people can flourish.  

Chenai Mupotsa-Russell

BA, Post Grad Dip Family Dispute Resolution, Masters TAP(Therapy), PhD Candidate Community Psychology.