Vivyan Alers

Vivyan Alers achieved her B.A. Social Work, M.Sc. Occupational Therapy, certified Ayres Sensory Integration therapist and has extensive experience and training in Psychodrama and the Therapeutic Spiral Model.

She operates a private practice from Midrand, treating children / adolescents with learning and emotional problems as well as children / adolescents and adults who are trauma survivors.

She is director of the non profit organization ‘Acting Thru Ukubuyiselwa’ [017/119NPO] and has been instrumental in bringing the Therapeutic Spiral Model to South Africa. Since 2000, she has been involved in therapeutic groupwork and individual programmes for trauma survivors in disadvantaged areas, namely Ivory Park, Midrand and central Johannesburg. She has been a mentor for the Youth Development Theatre Project in Ivory Park. She has been instrumental in bringing international trainers to train professionals and community workers treating trauma survivors.

She is co-editor of the book ‘Occupational Therapy in Psychiatry and Mental Health’ 3^rd, 4^th  and 5^th  editions. Her experience in occupational therapy is in psychiatry and paediatrics, Occupational Group Therapy, Ayres Sensory Integration and the Therapeutic Spiral Model. Vivyan lectured at Wits for many years and left an impression on every one of her students.

Sadly Vivyan passed away in 2018 and she will be forever missed by all that knew her.