Models for Group Work Using Art and Expressive Therapies with Newly Arrived

Refugee Young People

AboutAbout STARTTSSTARTTS

• Our Mission: : Facilitate the healing process & resource others

• Our Clients: : Individuals & communities from refugee backgrounds now living in NSW. And service providers

SUPRASYSTEMMAINSTREAM SOCIETY & INSTITUTIONS

• Training service providers• Lobbying & advocacy• Awareness raising• Liaison with media/other agencies• Consultancy• Community education

REFUGEE COMMUNITY

• Community development projects• Advocacy & lobbying• Consultations• Information/community education

SOCIAL/SUPPORT NETWORK

• Support groups• Community development projects• Settlement information workshops• Youth program• Excursions• English & craft classes

FAMILY

• Family therapy• Family support• Youth program• Workshops for parents

INDIVIDUAL

• Counseling• Physiotherapy• Psychiatric assessment/treatment• Group therapy/treatment• Employment assistance

STARTTS: A Systemic Approach

ImpactImpact ofof RefugeeRefugee TraumaTrauma

Refugee trauma often results in profound discontinuity andloss in all domains of young people’s lives:

• Their feelings• Their thoughts• Their capacity to form relationships• Their ability to learn• Their future moral development• Their adjustment to life as adults (sense of self/bicultural

identity)

Therapeutic Principles of Therapeutic Principles of Group WorkGroup Work

• Universality – shared experiences & feelings among group

members

• Altruism – a place where group members can help each other

• Instillation of hope & imparting information

• Corrective recapitulation of primary family experience

• Development of socialising techniques

• Imitative behaviour (modelling) & catharsis

Benefits of an Art & Benefits of an Art & Expressive Therapy Expressive Therapy InterventionIntervention

• Reduce behavioural problems-art as an emotional outlet

• Formation of adequate emotional response to trauma

• Increase motivation

• Improve self-identity

• Increase socialisation through group awareness

• Increase organisational skills

About DRUMBEATAbout DRUMBEAT

Therapeutic program thatuses music to engage participants, teach social skillsand build self-esteem

About Dance to About Dance to HealHeal Dance to Dance to ExpressExpress

helpful for rehabilitation of the Body provides vital tools for reconnection to the body andto the self

About About Capoeira Capoeira AngolaAngola

– An Afro-Brazilian dance/martial art, its unique framework of empowerment

– effective engagement with young people to increases resilience and to overcome trauma

About About CampsCamps

Aims to provide young people with specific activities in which they can have fun; explore their feelings; enhance coping skills; and increase resiliency, communication skills, social skills and self-esteem

“The general goals for treatment are: to

help feel stable and safe in themselves

and with others; to work through and

integrate the traumatic memories; and

to assist in re-engaging fully in their

lives and in relationships with others.”

(Van der Kolk, MacFarlane & Alexander, 1996)

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