Hayley Berman

Hayley Berman is a Teaching Professor and Programme Leader for the MA in Art Therapy at the University of Hertfordshire's School of Creative Arts. She holds a PhD in Psychosocial Studies from the University of the West of England (2012). Her work integrates art psychotherapy with social entrepreneurship, focusing on psychosocial change, trauma recovery, and social justice. She founded Lefika La Phodiso, a nonprofit addressing mental health disparities in South Africa, training over 200 Community Art Counsellors. Her research explores embodied methodologies, including social dreaming matrices and group art psychotherapy.

Her research interests span applied psychoanalytic frameworks, relational dynamics in art therapy, and materiality in artistic practice. Collaborative projects include work with governmental and NPO entities in South Africa and the UK. She has exhibited artwork in venues like the Johannesburg Art Gallery and published through Lefika Publications.

Recent projects include partnerships on child health in Stevenage and medical humanities training for empathy in healthcare. Her work bridges clinical practice, community development, and educational innovation.