Dr Jose van den Akker

Dr Jose van den Akker

Dr José van den Akker is a transpersonal art therapist, educator, and researcher with a lifelong interest in the meeting points between culture, consciousness, and creativity. Holding a PhD in Cross-Cultural Education and Communication and an Advanced Diploma in Transpersonal Art Therapy, she integrates art, dialogue, and reflective practice to help people explore their inner and outer worlds. Her work invites individuals and communities to rediscover connection through awareness, imagination, and compassion.

Born and raised in The Netherlands and having lived in Australia as a spiritually attuned migrant for more than 30 years, José is deeply committed to helping you to restore balance of body, mind, and spirit, connecting you as a spiritual being at the centre of 'your cross'. She is a commended art therapist and author of both academic, spiritual books and journal articles.



She has 18 years of tertiary education and over 25 years of experience facilitating learning processes of people from all walks of life, specialising in people's personal development, expression and communication skills. Her sound knowledge of therapeutic work plus her ability to connect with people's state of wellbeing deeply and intuitively ensures her clients' success.

www.universal-heart.com.au

The Space Between

THE ART OF COMMUNICATION ACROSS CULTURES

The Space Between explores what becomes possible when curiosity, listening and awareness take the place of assumption and division.

Every cross-cultural encounter offers a choice: to build a bridge or a barrier. The Space Between explores how genuine connection grows when we listen deeply, stay curious and allow ourselves to be changed by what we learn.

Shaped by Dr José van den Akker's years of teaching, research and work across diverse communities, this this short, concise book offers an accessible overview of her research rather than a full academic monograph. It moves beyond doctoral theory to the real story at the heart of all cross-cultural engagement: people, with their fears, hopes and longing to connect.



Practical, reflective and written in clear, everyday language, it presents usable ideas without academic jargon. Thoughtful and quietly transformative, it is an invitation to see beyond difference and notice the threads of humanity that bind us all.