Art Therapy Workshops for Educators
Creative Approaches to Learner Wellbeing in Schools
An Experiential Staff Development Workshop Introducing Art Therapy Principles
Schools today are increasingly aware that learners’ emotional wellbeing directly affects their ability to learn, concentrate and thrive.
Educators are often the first to notice when children are struggling emotionally, yet many challenges learners experience are difficult for them to express using words alone.
Art Therapy offers educators creative tools to better understand learners’ emotional worlds and support healthy development in the classroom.
These experiential workshops introduce school staff to practical Art Therapy principles that support emotional wellbeing, resilience and communication in the classroom.
The workshops are engaging, practical and appropriate for a school setting, focusing on insights educators can apply in their everyday interactions with learners.
No artistic ability is required — the focus is on understanding the creative process rather than producing “good” artwork.
Ideal for staff development days, wellness days, or professional development programmes.
What This Workshop Offers
🧠 Practical Insight for Educators
Understand how creative expression helps children communicate emotions and how educators can support learner wellbeing in the classroom.
🎨 Experiential Learning
Participants engage in guided creative exercises that provide direct insight into the Art Therapy process. No artistic skill required.
🏫 Designed for School Environments
The workshop is practical, engaging and tailored specifically for educators working with children and adolescents.
Educators leave the workshop with practical insights and approaches they can immediately apply in their everyday interactions with learners
Trusted by Schools and Organisations Including
• South African Department of Education
• SACAP
• Curro Academy
• Academy Private School
• Hennopspark Laerskool
• Hugo Naudé Art Centre
• Ntshole Foundation
• Numeric
• Children's Studio
• The Squad
as well as independent and government schools, NGOs and professional training groups across South Africa.
Why Art Therapy in Schools?
Children and adolescents often struggle to verbalise difficult emotions. These feelings may instead appear as:
• anxiety or withdrawal
• behavioural challenges
• low confidence or self-esteem
• difficulty concentrating or learning
What is sometimes experienced as “bad behaviour” can often be a child’s way of communicating inner distress.
Art Therapy provides a safe, creative and non-verbal form of communication that allows learners to explore emotions and experiences in a less threatening way.
When children feel seen, heard and emotionally supported, their ability to engage in learning and relationships improves.
Schools that introduce creative and emotionally supportive approaches often report:
• improved emotional expression in learners
• better understanding of behaviour
• stronger educator–learner relationships
• increased learner engagement and wellbeing
Art Therapy Workshops for Educators
These Art Therapy workshops for educators provide practical insight into how creative expression supports emotional communication and wellbeing in children.
Participants will gain practical insight into:
Understanding Children’s Emotional Communication
• recognising behaviour as communication
• understanding the symbolic nature of children's artwork
Creative Approaches in the Classroom
• the difference between teaching art and Art Therapy
• directive vs non-directive creative approaches
Creating Emotionally Safe Spaces
• supporting learners without needing to “fix” or advise
• understanding boundaries and emotional containment
Supporting Learner Wellbeing
• encouraging imagination and creative problem solving
• recognising when referral for therapy may be appropriate
Workshops include experiential art-making, reflection, discussion and clinical examples from practice.
Workshop Options for Schools
Choose between a 2½ hour introductory workshop or a full-day experiential training programme.
Workshops are tailored to the specific needs and age groups within your school community.
Staff Development Mini-Workshop (2½ Hours)
A practical introduction to Art Therapy in education.
Participants experience a short creative exercise, followed by discussion and reflection on how the creative process helps children express and process emotions.
Duration: 2½ hours
Group Size: up to 20 participants
Venue: Your school or online
Investment: From R5950 for groups of up to 20 participants
Travel fees apply outside Cape Town
Invoices and formal quotations can be provided for school procurement processes.
Staff Development 1-Day Art Therapy Workshop
A deeper experiential training exploring emotional communication, creativity and learner wellbeing.
Workshops can be tailored to the needs of your school, including:
• learner wellbeing and emotional development
• supporting learners with special needs
• trauma, change and loss in schools
• staff wellbeing and resilience
• case discussions relevant to your school
Duration: 1 full day or 2 half days
Group size:up to 20 participants
Venue: Your school or online
Travel fees apply outside Cape Town
Invoices and formal quotations can be provided for school procurement processes.
Optional Add-On: Creative Wellbeing Session for Learners
Schools may choose to include an additional creative wellbeing session for learners when booking a staff workshop.
This experiential session introduces learners to creative expression as a way to explore feelings, build self-awareness and develop emotional resilience in a safe and supportive environment.
Sessions can be adapted for different age groups and may explore themes such as:
• emotional expression
• building confidence and self-esteem
• coping with change or stress
• creativity and problem solving
• strengthening peer connection
Duration: 60–90 minutes
Group size: up to 25 learners
Available when booking a staff workshop.
About the Facilitator
Samantha Davis is an internationally trained and registered Art Psychotherapist (HPCSA AT 0000469) with over 26 years of clinical experience.
She runs a private Art Therapy practice in South Africa and works with children, adolescents, adults and professionals in both individual and group settings.
Her clinical experience includes working with individuals experiencing:
• anxiety and depression
• ADHD and learning difficulties
• emotional and behavioural challenges
• trauma and loss
• neurodiversity including autism spectrum conditions
She has also facilitated training workshops and programmes for educators and professionals working with vulnerable children, including collaborations with the South African Department of Education.
Important Note
These workshops provide an introduction to Art Therapy principles and creative approaches for supporting learners.
They do not train participants to practise Art Therapy, which requires a Master’s degree and professional registration with the HPCSA in South Africa.
Art Therapy in Schools in South Africa
Art Therapy is increasingly recognised as a valuable approach for supporting learners’ emotional wellbeing in schools in South Africa.
These Art Therapy workshops for educators introduce practical creative approaches that help teachers better understand learners’ emotional communication and support their development within the school environment.
Workshops are available for schools across South Africa, with in-person training in Cape Town and online workshops available nationally.
Enquiries and Bookings
To enquire about availability or request a quotation, please contact:
Email: info@arttherapy.co.za
Website: www.arttherapy.co.za
If your school would like to enquire about Art Therapy workshops for educators, check availability, request a quotation, or provisionally reserve a date while confirming internally, please get in touch.
Request a Quotation / More Information
Please complete the form below to request a quotation for an Art Therapy in Education Workshop or gain more information regarding your specific needs.
Bookings are subject to Terms and Conditions.
“I grew more than I thought possible.”
“For the first time in my life I have discovered my true identity and can now answer the fundamental question of who I am!”
“The magic that Sam unleashes through her knowledge is beautiful.”
“An inspirational, wonderful, creative self-exploratory journey, Thank you!”
“Thank you for a thought-provoking and inspiring class! You are a fantastic therapist with a very caring and compassionate approach to listening! You made each and every person feel important by allowing each one the opportunity to feel safe enough to open up! Thank you for that.”
“Sam, you are so experienced and it is evident in your facilitation. You are really good at your job and do it with such professionalism.”
“The course went beyond my personal expectations. I came thinking that we would mainly be learning about Art Therapy, which we did, but it was a big transformational experience for me which I was not expecting.”
“The Art Therapy was a gentle, creative and fun way to build trust and deliver outcomes. It was enjoyable and an extremely valuable experience in our Strategy workshop.”
“I didn’t realize how much I NEEDED Art Therapy. It was like rain falling on desert soil. And I have grown so much. My heart feels alive again. I will be back!”
“It was a time to forget about the problems and the world around me. Sam is a brilliant facilitator. Even though I was nervous, it was a time for me to reflect and to enjoy how therapeutic art can be. It calmed the storm that reigned inside of me. The Mandala Art Therapy workshop is like having a picnic next to a quiet river. You granted time to reach that point where you can become quiet and can experience the Universe.”
“A very comprehensive and thorough intro into Art Therapy. Covered a lot of ground in 5 days and left with a priceless manual and a warm glow.”
“It was the best week of my life, I learnt that I could always be happy as long as I was in a happy and comfortable space, and if I wasn’t I needed to create that space. I learnt that I was in control and all I had to do was to take charge and have fun and paint on a bigger board i.e. see the bigger picture. I am so grateful for the opportunity that came my way and that I was able to embrace and savor it.”
