Research and publications

“Research has shown the significant contribution of neuroscience to understanding the importance of the use of images, objects and words, ‘action-orientated” interventions in working with trauma survivors.” – Bessel van der Kolk, author.

The 1994 elections in South Africa marked the birth of a new democracy, in 1995 South Africa won their first Rugby World Cup, in 1996 Lefika La Phodiso was born. Against the ever-changing landscape, both locally and globally, Lefika La Phodiso has continued to be a rock of healing and holding to the community. It’s also been a place of empirical research and study. Lefika La Phodiso founder, Dr Hayley Berman, was one of the first registered art therapists in South Africa. She lobbied for art therapy to be recognised by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Hayley’s pioneering work has mapped the way for others to follow. We believe that Lefika La Phodiso has made a significant global impact as is apparent from the many publications.

• Berman, H. (2005). ‘Transforming objects in a transforming South Africa’. In Art Therapy and Political Violence. Edited by Kalmanowitz, D. and Lloyd, B., pp.172-186.
• Berman, H. ‘Active witnessing: Lefika la Phodiso’s response to the South African xenophobic crisis’, Journal of Psycho-Social Studies, Volume 4, Issue 1, June 2010. 
• Berman, H. ‘The Development and Practice of Art Therapy as “Community Art Counselling” in South Africa’, ATOL Art Therapy Online, 1 (3) 2011.
• Berman, H (2017). ‘Finding places and spaces for recognition: Applied art therapy training and practice in the mitigation against unthinking acts of violence and intolerance’, Art Therapy Online (ATOL) 8.
• Di Maria, A (2019) (Editor).  Exploring ethical dilemmas in art therapy, Informa UK Limited (England no: 1072954) (in respect only of its division trading as Taylor & Francis/Routledge; New York).
• Berman, H (2018). ‘Redressing social injustice: Transcending and transforming the borders of art therapy training in South Africa’. In: Di Maria, A (ed.) Exploring Ethical dilemmas in Art Therapy Training in South Africa: 50 Clinicians from 20 countries share their stories. New York and London: Taylor and Francis.
• H, Berman and Woollett, N. ‘Art psychotherapy’s potential to alleviate the mental health burden in South Africa on account of HIV: Strengthening the system through training lay counselors’, Adlam,J, Gilligan, T, Lutha, T, Lee, B, Young, J (editors) Violent states: Individual to international. Creative states: Overcoming violence (Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 2017 in print).
• Berman, H and Manley, J (2017). ‘Social dreaming and creativity in South Africa: Imag(in)ing the unthought known’, Violent States and Creative States - From the Global to the Individual: Book One - Structural Violence and Creative Structures. ed. / John Adlam; Tilman Kluttig; Bandy Lee. Vol. One First. ed. London : Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2018. p. 221-236.
• Woollett, N,  Brahmbhatt, H,  Dodd, K,  Booth, M,  Berman, H, Cluver, L (2017). ‘Revealing the impact of loss: Exploring mental health through the use of drawing/writing with HIV positive adolescents in Johannesburg’, April 2017, Children and Youth Services Review 77, DOI:10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.04.021.