A welcome from the editing team
Jessica Mayson & Lulu Negota
Welcome, readers, to our fourth edition of Beyond Words: an online magazine celebrating the practice, reflections and innovations of the arts therapies in South Africa. In this edition, we explore the theme of Intersections. In particular, our authors explore the question of how Arts Therapists hold space at the intersections of multidisciplinary teams.
Michael invites us into the issue, with the idea that Arts Therapists bring the unique value of being able to collaborate with uncertainty, within the meshwork of multidisciplinary care. We hear from Sasha-Leigh, Dani and Alisa, emerging Arts Therapists, whose professional identities are being formed within multidisciplinary spaces and are navigating the challenges and opportunities within them. Gugulethu, Athina, Bianca, Lesley and Mari give us illustrations from their practice – from paediatric palliative care to psycholegal organisations, clinics and NGOs. We close this issue with a poem from Michelle, capturing the valuable voice of the artwork within this work.
This edition of Beyond Words creates an opening for the broader public to access the world of the arts therapies, and the potency of these modalities at the intersections of care.
We’re glad to witness the way SANATA continues to grow, bringing us together as a community, and to hear and share the stories of how Arts Therapists are expanding in practice and collaboration. A big thank you to each of our authors that contributed to this edition – your voices make this magazine what it is. We hope our readers find joy and inspiration in these stories.
Enjoy the read!
Jessica Mayson is an HPCSA-registered Arts Therapist (Drama Therapy) working in Cape Town, South Africa (MA, University of the Witwatersrand). She works individually and with groups; with children, adolescents and adults in community-based and private practice settings. Her particular focus is on supporting her clients to navigate the impact of trauma, build resilience and process challenging transitions. In her practice, Jessica is committed to offering socially just, creative spaces where parts of self and community can be understood, find expression and integration. She is also part of Groundspring Playback Theatre Company, and collaborates with sp(i)eel Arts Therapies Collective.
Lulu Negota is a registered Music Therapist with the HPCSA and serves as SANATA’s Communications Portfolio Chair. Based in Midrand and Pretoria, she works with children, adults, and older persons in both private practice and care settings. Lulu has a passion for making music accessible as a tool for healing and growth, and she also teaches young children music and theory. With a background in management and communications, she brings both creativity and structure to her therapeutic work and to her role in supporting SANATA’s vision.
Jané Nash is a Drama Therapy intern (MA, University of the Witwatersrand) based in Johannesburg, currently awaiting independent registration with the HPCSA. She works with children, adolescents and adults in individual and group settings, using creative processes to support expression, resilience and meaningful connection. Jané has a particular interest in mediation and collaborative communication, and is a director of Mediation Pan African. She is committed to fostering accessible, socially just therapeutic spaces where creativity and dialogue can support personal and community growth.