Abstract
This research paper focuses on a case vignette of a family affected by a rare disease diagnosis. There is limited research at the time of writing in South Africa focused on family art therapy; this study attempts to establish if art therapy can uncover resilience factors in families affected by trauma associated with a rare disease diagnosis. The study consists of four art therapy sessions focused on identifying resilience factors through family collaborative art including clay, a medium previously unexplored by the family. Literature draws from studies on family art therapy; attachment; clay as a therapeutic medium; parallels between therapist and client and the understanding resulting from this. The art making and claywork processes paralleled an awareness of vulnerability; brokenness and repair as well as an awareness of resilience through the witnessing of each other during sessions. The sessions are discussed through acknowledging the individual and collective art making. This is in keeping with the family systems approach of individuals having personal and collective identities within a family. Findings conclude that an awareness of the family’s strength and resilience and their interconnectedness was made visible firstly through members’ artworks and secondly through the mutual witnessing that took place in the artmaking and exploring clay as a new material. This awareness showed the importance of acknowledging struggles faced both medically and psychologically by the family as well as the protective factors identified together during the study. Initial findings are positive and further studies are recommended.