Tessa

Mrs Tessa Whyatt, MA

Art Therapist

Verified

“With my qualifications and experience in art therapy and coaching, I have an interest in building your resilience and working on your growth and self-development. Thus, I offer many tools to support you, with a gentle and encouraging approach. While not everyone is keen to try art therapy, I often use a creative approach that offers the use of imagery, visualisation, metaphor and symbolism even in talk therapy/ counselling. Everyone has ups and downs in their journey of life, but sometimes you need additional support to navigate particular low points. Addressing the problem from multiple angles, with various lenses, can be the breakthrough that is needed. I want to help you improve your quality of life and well-being.”

About Me

I am an art therapist, grief educator and therapeutic/ care coach with multiple qualifications and wide experience. I offer a mix of beneficial integrative practices, working from a Humanistic, Positive Psychology framework: a whole person, strengths-based approach looking at your mental, physical and emotional health needs. I am an experienced therapist and coach with multiple and varied trainings. I started as an art therapist 20 years ago and have actively added to my qualifications and experience. I specialise in grief and loss work, including infertility, trauma and divorce; as well as working with people struggling with anxiety and depression. I work with people of all ages, helping you navigate difficult times and address problem areas with a focus on wellbeing, using resilience coaching and other tools. I have a special interest in Neuroscience, and using breathwork and mindfulness to help regulate you from a Polyvagal perspective. I offer a calm, person-centred, and welcoming space, providing gentle support to help you improve your health and quality of life. The therapeutic relationship is integral.

Approach

When we meet, sessions feel paced and practical, mixing gentle reflection with creative tasks that help untangle heavy feelings. I work in English from Cape Town or online, and we set clear, manageable goals while staying attentive to your pace and safety. The work often includes resilience-building conversations to shift patterns so daily stresses become easier to navigate. People facing grief, persistent low mood or anxiety tend to find this hands-on, steady approach helpful. I also aim to improve your self-esteem and confidence, prioritise self-care, and build coping skills. Thus, the overall aim of my work is to overcome current obstacles and build Prosilience (Resilience in advance of future challenges!)
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Basic Information

In-person & Online

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Services

As a therapist and grief educator, I support people struggling with bereavement, illness, anticipatory grief and Infertility. Although I work in many areas, I also specialise in Anxiety and Depression. I use a variety of experiences and targeted tools to help you reach your emotional, mental, and physical health goals. As a coach, we would look forward towards helping you find your purpose, reach your potential, manage life and career transitions, overcome stuckness, build E.Q., etc.

Services Offered:

  • Child / Adolescent Therapy

    Therapy for children and teenagers using age-appropriate methods, such as play, art, or adapted talk therapy, to address emotional and behavioural difficulties.

    Learn more about Child / Adolescent Therapy
  • Individual Therapy

    One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.

    Learn more about Individual Therapy
  • Art Therapy

    A form of therapy that uses visual art-making (drawing, painting, sculpture) as a means of expression and emotional processing.

    Learn more about Art Therapy
  • Coaching

    A goal-oriented practice focused on identifying objectives, overcoming obstacles, and taking action, centred on the present and future rather than past difficulties.

  • Online Therapy

    Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.

    Learn more about Online Therapy
  • Wellness Support

    Holistic support focused on overall well-being, including stress management, lifestyle balance, and building sustainable healthy habits.

  • Supervision

    Professional oversight for therapists and counsellors, providing guidance, ethical support, and reflective space for their clinical work.

    Learn more about Supervision
  • Psychoeducation

    Structured information provided about a mental health condition (what it is, why it occurs, and what strategies can help) as part of the therapeutic process.

    Learn more about Psychoeducation
  • Mindfulness

    The practice of paying deliberate attention to the present moment without judgement, used to reduce stress and increase awareness of automatic reactions.

    Learn more about Mindfulness

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Adults
  • Children
  • Elderly
  • Individuals

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • Grief, Loss & Bereavement

    The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss, varying widely in duration and expression.

    Learn more about Grief, Loss & Bereavement
  • Stress / Burnout

    The body and mind's response to prolonged or excessive demands. When sustained, it can lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and reduced functioning (burnout).

    Learn more about Stress / Burnout
  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • Depression

    A mood disorder marked by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and changes in energy, sleep, or appetite that impair daily functioning.

    Learn more about Depression
  • Pregnancy & Fertility Issues

    The emotional and psychological dimensions of pregnancy, fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, or the transition to parenthood.

    Learn more about Pregnancy & Fertility Issues
  • Performance

    The psychological factors (confidence, focus, pressure management) that influence how well a person performs in sport, academics, the arts, or work.

    Learn more about Performance
  • Personal Development

    The ongoing process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and reaching one's potential, pursued not because something is wrong but to live more fully.

  • Self-Care

    Deliberate actions taken to maintain or improve one's own mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

    Learn more about Self-Care
  • Self-Esteem

    A person's overall sense of their own worth and value. When chronically low, it can drive self-doubt, avoidance, and difficulty in relationships.

    Learn more about Self-Esteem

Professional Title:

  • Art Therapist

    A therapist who uses drawing, painting, and other art forms to help clients express and process emotions. No artistic ability needed.

Credentials

Registrations

Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)

Arts Therapist

Registration: AT0000949

Verify License

Qualifications

MA Art Therapy

University of Hertfordshire

Year: 2005

BA Fine Arts with Psychology

University of Cape Town

Year: 2002

Grief Educator

Grief.com with David Kessler

Year: 2021

Resilience Coach

Resilience Institute

Year: 2021

Essentials of Management Coaching

University of Stellenbosch Business school

Year: 2019

Memberships

South African National Arts Therapies Association (SANATA)

Provisional Member

Service Areas

Garden studio practice

In-person & Online

Pinelands

Cape Town, Western Cape

South Africa

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Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa