Answer to Question #97383 in Psychology for ABU

Question

with examples analyze how art therapy techniques can be used in a child who has experienced a traumatizing event

Answer 1

Art therapy helps a victim to feel safe and grounded in the aftermath of a traumatic experience. To address a child in such a condition, the therapist ought to clearly understand various therapeutic goals before selecting the most appropriate creative arts. Second, conducting the therapy in a group setting is more beneficial because the group members facilitates trust and disclosure. As such, it provides an opportunity for the traumatized children to find support from their peers, as well as to realize they are not alone in the situation. For example, dancing in a group helps the children to establish a sense of togetherness, while music can be used to communicate about the subject at hand (Van Westrehenen et al., 2019).

Reference

Van Westrhenen, N., Fritz, E., Vermeer, A., Boelen, P., & Kleber, R. (2019). Creative arts in psychotherapy for traumatized children in South Africa: An evaluation study. PloS one, 14(2), e0210857.