The creation of a clay vessel is a metaphor for the therapeutic journey of a family affected by a rare disease

This article is located within the South African rare disease community. The article draws from a master’s thesis and focuses on a case vignette of a family affected by a rare disease diagnosis. There is limited research in South Africa focused on family art therapy. This study established that art therapy processes can uncover resilience factors in families affected by trauma associated with a rare disease diagnosis. The original study consisted of four art therapy sessions focused on identifying resilience factors through family collaborative art using clay, a medium previously unexplored by the family. This article focuses on a single clay object created collaboratively by the family during the sessions. Literature draws from international studies on family art therapy, clay as material, kintsugi, and concepts of holding, containing, and transitional objects. The making and holding of the vessel and the vulnerability of brokenness and repair parallelled the family’s story. The distinct phases that emerged in the art therapy process included the malleability of clay in its raw form, the brittleness of the unfired form, the tentative strength of the piece as bisque, the stronger form as a glazed item, and kintsugi reparation. Findings conclude that an awareness of the family’s strength and resilience was symbolised through the object’s creation and repair. This awareness showed the importance of acknowledging struggles faced both medically and mentally by the family and protective factors they witnessed among each other during the study. Initial findings were positive, and further studies are recommended.