What this life looks like
You heal through creativity. Art Therapists use the creative process — drawing, painting, sculpture, collage — as a therapeutic tool to help people process trauma, manage mental health conditions, and develop emotional wellbeing. In Africa, where mental health services are severely limited and stigma around mental illness remains significant, art therapy offers an accessible, culturally flexible therapeutic approach with enormous potential.
What she actually does
You work with individuals or groups in therapeutic settings, facilitating art-making as a means of emotional expression and psychological exploration. You use art processes — not the analysis of finished artworks — to help clients communicate feelings that words cannot reach, develop insight, process grief or trauma, build confidence, and improve their mental health and quality of life.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Mental Health Services | NGO mental health programmes, community mental health centres, psychiatric hospitals across Africa |
| Schools & Education | Therapeutic support in schools, particularly for children affected by trauma, conflict, or disability |
| NGOs & Humanitarian | UNHCR trauma support, refugee organisations, MSF — art therapy in crisis and post-conflict settings |
| Hospitals & Healthcare | Paediatric wards, cancer care units, rehabilitation centres — art therapy as part of integrated healthcare |
Why it matters in Africa
Africa faces a severe mental health crisis — fewer than 10 psychiatrists per million people in most Sub-Saharan African countries. Art therapy's relatively low cost, its non-pharmacological nature, and its cultural flexibility make it particularly valuable in African contexts. Growing awareness of mental health among African youth, combined with the trauma of conflict, displacement, and poverty affecting millions, makes this work urgent.
Your pathway in
- Study Psychology, Social Work, Fine Art, or Occupational Therapy at university
- Pursue a postgraduate diploma or master's in Art Therapy — the University of Hertfordshire, Goldsmiths London, and increasingly African institutions offer art therapy training
- Gain supervised clinical experience in mental health, social work, or educational settings
- Register with your country's art therapy association or a recognised professional body
- Develop both therapeutic training and artistic competence — you need to understand both art and psychology
Skills you will need
- Art therapy theory and practice
- Psychology and counselling skills
- Creative facilitation
- Trauma-informed practice
- Ethical and professional standards
- Cultural sensitivity
A woman in this field
Samantha Davis
South Africa
Samantha Davis is a pioneering, fully registered South African Art Psychotherapist with nearly three decades of clinical experience working at the intersection of psychology, human development, and the creative process. She earned her formal post-graduate training in Art Psychotherapy from the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom before returning to practice within the African continent. Registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), Davis integrates psychodynamic psychotherapy with experiential, hands-on artistic expression. Her practice focuses on helping individuals and traumatized groups navigate psychological distress—including severe burnout, anxiety, depression, and complex trauma—by utilizing art as a non-verbal pathway to unlock inner emotional processing that words cannot reach. She is a highly sought-after speaker and clinical educator who designs community mental health programs, group workshops, and corporate well-being initiatives across the region.
Take your first step
- Research what art therapy is through the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) at baat.org — they offer clear explanations of the profession and training routes
- Study the growing academic literature on arts-based healing in African contexts — search 'art therapy Africa' in Google Scholar for research articles
- Volunteer with an NGO that works with vulnerable young people and offer creative workshops — building facilitation experience is essential
- Research the South African Association of Arts Therapists at saat.co.za to understand how the profession is developing in Africa
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