FORM 215
ARTS THERAPIES
Scope of Practice
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA
THE PROFESSIONAL BOARD FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND MEDICAL
ORTHOTICS/PROSTHETICS
1.1 General description / definition
1.1.1 Art Therapy
Art therapy (also called art psychotherapy or analytic art psychotherapy) is a mode of
psychotherapy in which creative use of various physical materials to produce images and
objects is integral to the therapeutic process. Art Therapy focuses on the making,
manipulation and interpretation by client(s) and therapist of visual images, objects and
materials (paintings, drawings, constructions etc.) in the presence of the art therapist in a safe
setting. The image, object, material process is not considered simply a symptom, but the
means through which the subjective and objective nature of the client’s experience is
connected, mediated, explored, and integrated. In general, Art therapy aims to restore or
enhance the client’s functional competence and emotional balance in a way appropriate to
their life context. Art therapy is effective for individual, group and family work, may be
directive or non-directive, and ranges from short term interventions to long term therapy. Art
therapy is context-sensitive and aims to be appropriate to local conditions as far as possible.
1.2 Approaches
The Arts Therapies like clinical psychology embrace diverse theoretical and practical
approaches. These approaches, directly or indirectly influenced by diverse psychological
schools of thought, are rooted in the conceptual and methodological practice of the arts
medium. Theory and method are intrinsically interrelated in the clinical observation,
planning, practice, explanation and assessment of the Arts Therapies. Although the medical
approach is generally not directly adopted in the Arts Therapies, Arts Therapy practice may
address physical needs at a secondary level, augmenting clients' other existing rehabilitation /
remedial programmes.
Arts therapies practices include brief / short-term therapy, directive and non-directive
therapy, individual and open / closed group therapy, and each of the Arts Therapies
incorporates a variety of theoretical models.
1.2.1 Art Therapy
Analytical Art Therapy
Art Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic Art Therapy
Activity-based Art Therapy
1.3 Client populations / groups
Clients are usually referred to an Arts therapist by recognised health-care workers. These
include medical doctors, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers, occupational
therapists, speech therapists, physiotherapists, mental health counsellors, and teachers.
Because the Arts therapies primarily offer opportunities for non-verbal therapeutic work, the
disciplines are well-suited to addressing a range of acute and chronic
illnesses/disabilities/disorders.
The Arts therapies may be used with the following populations:
a) Developmental delay
b) Physical disability
c) Mental disability
d) Emotional disturbance
e) Persons suffering from psychiatric illness (adults, adolescents and children, in- and outpatients; individual and groups)
f) Learning disabilities
g) Autism
h) Sensory impairments
i) Geriatric conditions
j) Language/communication disorders (including hearing impairments)
k) Neurological injuries/traumas
l) Persons in life transitions
m) The elderly
n) Persons undergoing rehabilitation from substance abuse
o) Persons suffering from pain and anxiety within medical settings
p) People suffering from stress, trauma, bereavement and other life crises
q) People seeking personal growth and self-development.
r) Groups seeking conflict resolution and team building.
s) Family Service Agencies and community settings
t) Victims of violence and sexual abuse
u) Members of the so-called ‘normal neurotic’ population
v) Offenders and prison populations
w) Persons suffering from terminal illnesses
1.4 Expected outcomes of the Arts Therapies
a) Improved awareness of self (integration of physical, emotional, intellectual and social).
b) Improved awareness of physical environment
c) Improved awareness of significant others, peers, and groups
d) Improved attention to self, others and physical environment
e) Improved perception and discrimination in sensori-motor areas
f) Improved insight about self, others and the environment
g) Improved self-expression, containment of emotions and impulse control
h) Improved interpersonal communication
i) Improved integration of self (sensory-motor experiences, levels of consciousness, parts of
self, time, roles, etc.)
j) Improved interpersonal relationships with significant others, peers, and groups
k) Improved self-confidence/assertiveness
l) Developing self-control with regard to destructive and aggressive impulses
m) Improved cognitive skills
n) Improved motor skills,
o) Pain and anxiety management
In addition to 1.4:
1.4 (i) Art Therapy
a) Enhanced general creativity in the use of art materials and more broadly
1.5 Contexts where Arts Therapies may be applied:
1.5.1 Educational
The Arts Therapist is part of the teaching / remedial team and is administratively accountable
to the Head Teacher, or to the person responsible for educational programme. The Arts
Therapist’s remit includes accepting referrals from appropriate professionals, assessing
children, designing and implementing treatment programmes, writing and submitting regular
reports, and attending case conferences.
The Arts Therapists may work in:
a) Mainstream schools, pre-primary, primary and secondary
b) Special Schools, pre-primary, primary and secondary, e.g. schools for physically disabled
children, schools for mentally handicapped children, schools for children with
learning difficulties, schools for autistic children, schools for emotionally disturbed
children, schools for children with hearing problems and schools for blind children.
c) Other educational contexts e.g. long-term hospitalisation educational programs.
d) Trade and business educational programs
e) Adult education programmes
1.5.2 Health Team
The Arts Therapies covers psychotherapeutic and rehabilitative work, and the Arts Therapists
are part of the multi-disciplinary team, and administratively accountable to the Head
Physician / Head of the Unit or some senior person designated by the host institution. The
Arts Therapist’s remit includes accepting referrals from the multi-disciplinary team and from
individual professionals within the unit, assessing new patients, designing and implementing
treatment programme, writing and submitting regular reports, attending case conferences.
The Arts Therapists work in private and public sector:
a) paediatric clinics
b) primary health care clinics
c) general hospitals
d) psychiatric hospitals / clinics
e) clinics for communication disorders
f) geriatric care units
g) chronic mental health care units
h) chronic physical health care units
i) chronic neurological health care units
j) ante-natal and post-natal clinics
k) hospices
1.5.3 Rehabilitation
The Arts Therapist is part of the multi-disciplinary health / rehabilitation team, accepts
referrals from the multi -disciplinary team and from individual professionals within the unit,
assessing new patients, designing and implementing appropriate Arts Therapies treatment
programmes, writing and submitting regular reports, attending case conferences.
The Arts Therapists work with clients who are in rehabilitation from :
a) physical injuries
b) neurological injuries
c) mental illness
d) emotional trauma
e) drug and/or alcohol dependency
1.5.4 Correctional services
The Arts Therapist is part of the psychological support offered to long -term and short-term
prisoners, provides individual and groups sessions, and is part of the rehabilitation process of
prisoners prior to being released.
1.5.5 Community work
This includes recreational, enrichment and developmental aspects of the Creative Arts. The
Arts Therapists work with clients who are in community development / promotive /
preventative / support programs such as:
a) early Childhood Development programs
b) youth development programs
c) educational programs for out- of- school children and homeless children
d) primary health care clinics
e) family counselling
f) community day centres
g) community day centres for the elderly
1.5.6 Long-term Care for Person with Mental Disabilities
The Arts Therapists are part of the multi-disciplinary team within the residential / day-care
setting providing long-term as well as short-term programmes.
1.5.7 Private Practice
The Arts Therapists who have fulfilled the requirements for registration with the HPCSA. and
who have received at least three years’ cumulative supervision from a registered Arts
Therapist or from a registered mental health professional, one year of which is during post
qualification working experience in a professional context may practice in their private
capacity.
This is an excerpt from the HPCSA Scope of Practice of Arts Therapies Document,
which is a 34-page document that includes
standards of training and guidelines for registration.
For the full document, please contact me with a request.