The medicine in the circle: A case example of embodied arts-based community practice to address intergenerational trauma in rural South Africa

Abstract

This article shares extracts from an arts-based community model of mental healthcare that works with family and social systems to develop collective resilience and address intergenerational trauma in a culturally informed manner. The practice is situated in an African philosophy of collectivism, where the group is a resource and source of support. It invites arts therapists to engage with psychological practices outside of an individualistic focus with a practical approach to considering the ecosystem which influences health and well-being. Theories such as embodiment and polyvagal theory, community and collective resilience and intergenerational trauma are explored and translated to practise with an example of implementation in a remote farming community in the Western Cape of South Africa. The authors focus on practice elements derived from Dramatherapy and Applied Drama, which highlights embodied practices as they are applied to address intergenerational trauma and develop collective resilience.