What we do

The Social Context

The need for therapeutic services in South Africa is complex. Rising from an era of political oppression and division, our society faces the challenges of moral regeneration, gender equity, the HIV and AIDS pandemic as well as extensive violence, crime and abuse (emotional, physical and sexual). An optimistic future for South Africa depends on therapeutic interventions, which address this current climate and generate psychosocial wellbeing.

The role of Art Counselling in addressing this context

Art based interventions can holistically address a broad range of psychosocial issues.

Art Therapy is an internationally recognised form of psychotherapeutic creative healing which is effective for children, youth, and adults. It is particularly valuable when working with vulnerable client groups and facilitates disclosure, which is a key aspect of the therapeutic process.

Individuals exposed to trauma and loss, often experience a deadened sense of self and are subject to depression, aggression and suicidal ideation. The creative process enables them to re-access their "alive" parts, providing opportunities for exploration and emotional growth. For children affected by HIV and prematurely forced into adult roles, art-making encourages play – a vital ingredient in psycho-emotional development.

Our Model – a response

It is currently not possible to train as an Art Therapist in South Africa; this has resulted in a scarcity of services. The ATC has thus developed a unique model and category of profession called Community Art Counselling and is the ONLY organisation in the country that provides training in Art Counselling and Art Counselling services.

The ATC model of training and counselling is uniquely appropriate to the South African psychosocial climate. It responds to the scale of therapeutic need and accommodates therapy for large groups. Groups can range between five to 25 members and in cases of community trauma debriefing can include as many as 200. This ensures cost-effective interventions.

The two year, part time, Community Art Counselling Training offers the opportunity for personal growth, and the acquisition of professional Art Counselling skills. It is partially funded by The Department of Arts and Culture and is in the process of being SETA accredited.

It is a mid-level training that provides professional development to individuals who may not have had access to tertiary education, and seeks to identify and strengthen existing community resources. To ensure increased accessibility of Art Counselling services, trainees are selected from a wide range of areas and sectors. They include educators, correctional officers, artists, and mental healthcare workers amongst others.

Training skills the Art Counsellor to implement sustainable Art Counselling services within their workplace and the broader community, acting as a safeguard against trauma, abuse, stigmatisation, violence and emotional deprivation. These ‘safe spaces’ provide an environment for nourishing and harnessing the creative spirit.

They are designed to offer holistic support to individuals and their family members, encouraging emotional resilience and preventing destructive behaviour. Community Art Counselling trainees establish these Community Art Counselling Units within the first 6 months of training. This model builds community capacity and ensures that Art Counsellors are intimately familiar with the needs and concerns of their client groups.

Once training is complete, the Art Counsellor and their organization assume responsibility for the management of the Counselling Unit. The ATC offers ongoing support as a resource centre providing a library, advice, supervision and skills development.

Established Art Counselling Units

Art Counselling Units have and will be established in widespread geographic locations ensuring reach and accessibility. The following map represents unitsthat have been established and those that will be established during the course of the next Community Art Counselling Training.

The ATC is the ONLY organization in South Africa, which trains in Community Art Counselling skills – a grass-roots education initiative, to skill up community members in the application of Art Therapy practice.