 |
|
WHAT IS SANATO? SANATO is an umbrella body that provides a link between all the arts therapies by providing workshops and seminars for Professional Continuing Education. Workshops and seminars are offered for registered Arts Therapists as well as for interested health professionals, organisations and individuals. |
|
What are the Arts Therapies? ‘Arts Therapies’ is a generic term of convenience that is used to refer to the four separate professions of art therapy, dramatherapy, dance movement therapy and music therapy. Arts therapists make use of the mediums of drama, movement, art and music to facilitate change in the individual and in their ability to relate to others within multi-cultural and diverse social contexts. The main aim of the arts therapies is the intentional use of the arts to achieve the therapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional, cognitive and physical integration and personal growth. Arts therapists use their different art forms in therapy treatment for people with a wide range of health and psycho-social problems, with either individuals or groups of children and/or adults. For each arts therapy discipline, there are separate training programmes and separate professional associations. In the arts therapies, the art form (i.e. dance, drama, music, art) is used as a therapeutic tool to enable clients to effect change and growth. The art form provides an alternative form of communication in the formation and continuation of a therapeutic relationship. Clients who are referred to arts therapists need not have previous experience or skill in the specific art form and arts therapists do not necessarily make aesthetic or diagnostic assessments of client’s use of the art forms. Central to arts therapy is the understanding that the process of making art—in any media—is more important than the content it expresses. By working with creative processes, clients are enabled to see their lives and themselves in different ways, and access powerful resources for confronting life's challenges. Even when dealing with painful or frightening issues, the experience of expressing oneself safely through a creative process and within a therapeutic relationship can provide fresh perspectives and a sense of hope and empowerment.
|
|
 |
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 therapistin 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.
|
 |
Dance Movement Therapy Dance movement therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to facilitate change in individuals, and in their ability to relate to others. Dance movement therapy combines the expressive and creative aspects of dance with the insights of psychotherapy: emotional and bodily experiences are connected to one another and processed verbally or non-verbally. Movement yields images which are analysed as a means to gaining psychological understanding. In Group dance movement therapy, movement interaction enables patients to become aware of their interpersonal behaviour, allowing them to modify how they form and maintain relationships with others. Group dance movement therapy also yields movement, metaphor and imagery which illustrate the unconscious emotional life of the group.
|
 |
Dramatherapy Dramatherapy is the intentional and systematic use of drama and theatre processes and products to achieve the therapeutic goals of symptom relief, emotional, cognitive and physical integration, and personal growth. Dramatherapy incorporates diverse theoretical approaches and is action-orientated and experiential in practice, using one or more of the following processes: dramatic play, mime, puppetry, mask work, role play, enactment, ritual, improvisation, storytelling, theatre-making, drama games and text. These approaches aim to facilitate the client's ability to tell his/her story, solve problems, gain insight into personal behaviours, practice new behaviours, express feelings appropriately, achieve catharsis, improve interpersonal skills, and strengthen the ability to perform personal, social and professional life roles while increasing flexibility between roles. The structure and distance offered by drama allows personal experiences to be reviewed in a metaphorical way. Role play, observation and experimenting with different kinds of behaviours and strategies can help to reconstruct difficult group situations and explore alternative group systems, goals and roles.
|
 |
Music Therapy Music Therapy is the therapeutic application and use of music with people of all ages who suffer from a range of conditions which may have psychological, physical and/or neurological bases. In all instances the use of music is clinically informed, and involves a variety of techniques that include musical improvisation, performance, composition, movement, vocalisation and listening. In some instances the musical activities may extend towards and include extra-musical elements such as talking, drama, art and story-telling.
|
UPCOMING conferences coming soon |
|
CONTACT Carol Lotter on musictherapy2@up.ac.za
|
|
Registration and Practice as an Arts Therapist Arts therapists in South Africa have to be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in order to practice any of the art therapies. Failure to do so will result in prosecution in terms of Section 34 of the Health Professions Act, 1974. In order to qualify for registration with Council, a two year Masters Degree in Arts Therapy from a registered University plus 1000 supervised clinical hours of practice is the minimum requirement. A Masters in Music Therapy is offered at the University of Pretoria. For the other modalities (Art, Drama and Dance Movement) one would have to study abroad at a registered University. It is hoped that trainings in these Art Therapies will be offered in South Africa soon.
|
|
Web Links South African Association of Dramatherapists: www.dramatherapy.co.za © 2008 SANATO site designed by I DESIGN FREELANCE |
|