The Vona du Toit
Model of Creative Ability (VdTMoCA)
(van der Reyden et al, 2019)

International
Creative Ability Network (ICAN)


Information, training, resources


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All about the VdTMoCA

Overview of the VdTMoCA and ICAN

Overview of the VdTMoCA and ICAN

Overview of the VdTMoCA and information about Dr Wendy Sherwood and the International Creative Abilty Network

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The VdTMoCA to date

The VdTMoCA to date

Use of the VdTMoCA in the UK and in other countries. Processes undertaken to embed the VdTMoCA - some tips for today's practitioners.

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The VdTMoCA in detail

The VdTMoCA in detail

What is creative ability? Core constructs. The model's graphic explained.

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The levels and phases of creative ability

The levels and phases of creative ability

Brief explanation of the levels and phases of creative ability, relating these to services.

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Assessment of creative ability and outcome measurement

Assessment of creative ability and outcome measurement

Overview of the assessment methods and process

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Treatment

Treatment

Explanation of the treatment principles and how they relate to each level of creative ability.

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MDT and service relevance of the VdTMoCA

MDT and service relevance of the VdTMoCA

Overview of how the VdTMoCA can positively influence the quality of service provision and other disciplines' fulfilment of their roles.

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Testimonials

     

 Thoroughly enjoyed this training! Informative and hugely beneficial to my practice. I feel I have gained a better insight into my service users and will explore ways to change my approach using the knowledge and understanding from this training. I feel I can adapt and improve the service provision to meet the needs of service users, and feel I am now equipped to better support service users especially those who present on the Self-differentiation/Self-Presentation levels when before I felt stumped with how to engage them. 

Occupational Therapist: OT
     

 "Helped me to think about the 'stuckness' of some of our clients and how to work with this" - Team Manager. "Highlighted the need to look at different ways of working with out clients base - encouraged to look at difficulties that clients have and the need to look at reasons behind this. Promoted ways that can help them function more effectively in a personal way" - Support Worker. "A model that corresponds to the patient group characteristics; helps understand and perhaps explain barriers; a guide to pitching interventions right." Psychiatrist 

Occupational Therapist: OT
     

 I love the model and how it is so very activity based, 'doing' not taking about doing. I work in a PICU so am interested in how it applies with patients who are hostile, and will be experimenting! Love that OT is for all people however unwell, and have used from Tone upwards in previous work, not fully, but trying to apply based on reading the book. The training made this much more do-able and I like the format, finding the explanations and application clear. Thank you 

Occupational Therapist: OT
     

 I have found this training extremely informative and it has given me plenty of food for thought. I particularly liked all of the examples of application to practice. Furthermore, the training also made me reflect on my previous practice and identify instances where I have got it 'wrong' e.g. not enforced social norms enough. I have also had the pleasure of seeing this model in practice and the results are really impressive. Personally, I would have liked a more interactive style of teaching as this aligns better with my learning preferences and would have benefited from more examples of how to apply the model in community settings. In hindsight, it would also have been helpful for me to have purchased the book to refer to alongside the training. Thank you Wendy- I am looking forward to getting stuck in now! 

Lucy: OT

 I loved the training, just wish this was part of the OT training curriculum, and that I had the opportunity 25 years ago. I think I would have made much more significant difference to people’s lives using this model. 

Amanda: OT
  
     

 It is easy to relate with what is actually happening in the ward. It explains the level of the patients and its approaches to introducing tasks and activities and how to move to enhance and upgrade their [patients’] skills. 

Nurse

TRAINING & CPD

Increasing understanding of VdTMoCA-informed OT: Challenges and solutions, 26 November 2025

A one-day workshop to examine the challenges faced by OTs in gaining understanding of their role and contribution, and to enhance OTs’ ability to explain OT, the VdTMoCA and how it can benefit everyone’s client encounters and/or the total service provision. The workshop’s practical aspects include trying out different approaches to explaining occupational therapy and creative ability, including the use of metaphors and level specific posters and pamphlets. Core constructs of the VdTMoCA will be clarified through participants creating and sharing presentation slides for other disciplines, and written material. Various methods of engaging other disciplines and communicating VdTMoCA-informed OT will be shared, including a summary of the published evidence-base of the VdTMoCA.

Basic training in the VdTMoCA

Basic training for OTs and OT Support Workers Getting started with the essential foundation knowledge in the VdTMoCA

Fuller understanding

Be confident in your understanding of the levels and phases of creative ability. A South African expert in the VdTMoCA brings the levels alive with clear examples for working with the levels in practice, supported by very user-friendly infographics in the VdTMoCA Refresher. VdTMoCA Refresher PLUS additionally provides treatment activities examples.

Advanced practitioner knowledge

Realising Creative Ability is for advanced knowledge, including recordings of complex case-based teaching and in-practice case supervision.

Improving a service - the Analytical Survey

Gain an understanding of the Analytical Survey Method and how it can enable you to make sense of: - why clients are not attending or engaged as well as you expect in a service, - the relation between clients' needs and problems, and mismatched service provision.

RESOURCES & Awards

Awards

ICAN Celebrating OT Support Workers Award ICANcreativity Contribution and Participation Awards

VIDEOS

Overviews of the VdTMoCA which are useful to OT staff, MDTs, OT students and educators.

Discussions and information sharing

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Poster downloads

Freely downloadable list of VdTMoCA published research/articles, conference presentations and posters. Conference posters to download.

Conference presentation downloads

Conference presentations on the VdTMoCA - not only the slides but the script accompanying the slides - what was said. Coming soon to https://www.patreon.com/icancreativity

Texts

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VdTMoCA books