Art therapy with refugee children: a qualitative study explored through the lens of art therapists and their experiences

ABSTRACT

This article sets out to explore the use of art therapy with refugee children, from the perspective of art therapists and their experiences. Three semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain insights by capturing experiences and stories. Using thematic analysis, five themes were identified: (1) giving voice; (2) rebuilding trust, opening wounds; (3) sharing stories, healing pain; (4) exploring identity, discovering new-self; and (5) understanding art therapy. Upon reflection, two key aspects of art therapy were established, these were identified as: (1) providing refugee children with a safe space to heal and discover new-self, and (2) giving refugee children a voice to express and share stories. Despite the last of the five themes (understanding art therapy) being established as a factor that limits the use of art therapy, this has created an avenue for further research. From the findings, it was concluded that art therapy can be a useful form of psychotherapy for refugee children. Art therapy can provide these children with a safe space to heal, and give them a voice to be heard.

Plain-language summary

This research explores the use of art therapy with refugee children from the art therapist’s perspective. Three semi-structured interviews were carried out with art therapists who had experience of working with refugee children. Once interviews were collected, these were then analysed using a method of analysis which enables common themes to be found amongst the unique set of experiences and stories collected.

The analysis generated five themes, which were: (1) Giving Voice, (2) Rebuilding Trust, Opening Wounds, (3) Sharing Stories, Healing Pain, (4) Exploring Identity, Discovering New-self, and (5) Understanding Art Therapy. The first four themes suggested that art therapy is a useful form of therapy for refugee children. However, theme 5 (understanding art therapy) could be a limitation for art therapy with this client group, as art therapy is often unknown to them. Taking this research forward, it will be important to explore the use of art therapy with refugee children by carrying out further research with the children themselves.

In conclusion, art therapy can be a useful form of therapy for refugee children. Art therapy provides these children with a safe space to heal, and gives them a voice to be heard.

KEYWORDS:

• Art therapy
• refugee
• children
• trauma
• stories
• practitioner
• experiences

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Correction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on Contributors

Zahra Akthar completed her MA in art therapy from the University of Chester in 2017. Her main area of interest is working with refugees and she hopes to pursue further research in this area. She currently works with the Refugee Council and other charity organisations delivering art therapy to children and young people.

Andrew Lovell has been Professor of Learning Disabilities at the University of Chester since 2012 and has research interests in the areas of self-injury, clinical violence and forensic nursing. He has an interest in the use of art as a therapeutic tool, a clinical background in learning disability and mental health nursing, and has published quite extensively in these areas.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.