Art therapy in a multidisciplinary team with young men in prison

ABSTRACT

Background

People in prison often present with histories of trauma that can be difficult to process in the volatile prison environment. This article seeks to advance our understanding of the benefits of art therapy within a multidisciplinary team, and how it can help young men in prison who have experienced trauma.

Context

A review of the art therapy-informed interventions offered for trauma stabilisation in a service for young adult men in prison with complex needs is presented.

Approach

This article discusses a trauma-informed service in the prison and the variety of ways in which art therapy can support people in prison with histories of complex trauma. It explores: the use of art therapy in a group focusing on improving the prison environment; the role of art therapy in supporting trauma stabilisation and the development of ‘safe place’ processing; and the use of art therapy tools to explore dissociation with service users prior to engaging in trauma therapy.

Conclusions

The article highlights the vital role of art therapy as a non-verbal therapy to support young men to heal their past trauma. Reflections are offered on the importance of embedding art therapy within a service’s trauma therapy pathway.

Implications for research

It is recommended that research into the use of art therapy within prison settings is undertaken which could explore its utility in supporting people to process their trauma. This would provide further evidence for the role that non-verbal therapies may play in healing trauma.

Plain language summary

This article explores the benefits of art therapy in supporting young men with histories of trauma in prison in a multidisciplinary team. Trauma is a deeply personal and sensitive experience to explore in therapy. It can be very difficult for people in prison with histories of trauma to speak openly about their experiences. This can be made more challenging by the nature of the prison environment which can lead to ongoing traumatisation. The article discusses using art therapy to improve the environment within which the service sits. It explores the role of art therapy in trauma stabilisation as a precursor to engaging in trauma-processing therapies, and the use of visual tools in a trauma psychoeducation group, which were developed by an art psychotherapist. It also discusses the role of visual resources developed by the art psychotherapist to explore dissociation with the young men. The information in the article is helpful for those working with young people involved in the criminal justice system and for those working in prison implementing trauma-informed services and delivering trauma therapy.

KEYWORDS:

• Prisons
• young men
• complex trauma
• dissociation
• trauma therapy
• art therapy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kate Anya Geraghty

Dr Kate Geraghty is a Forensic Psychologist and Clinical Lead of the Pathways Complex Needs OPD Service at HMP/YOI Aylesbury.

Laura Jane Vahabzadeh

Laura Vahabzadeh currently works as an Art Therapist in the OPD Service at HMP Brixton and previously worked alongside Kate and Rose in the Pathways service at HMP/YOI Aylesbury.

Rose Simonet

Rose Simonet is an Assistant Psychologist at the Pathways Complex Needs OPD Service at HMP/YOI Aylesbury.