The role of art in supporting minority groups to heal from prolonged trauma
This presentation stems from our shared research interest and applied work in supporting minority groups to heal from traumatic experiences via creative interventions. We will discuss trauma, which refers to overwhelming situations that exceed our ability to cope or process the emotions they generate, in a broader context, as it can affect not only individuals, but also groups, communities, and entire ethnicities. During the first part of the presentation, Agata and Helena will provide a hands-on example of the power of creativity to support groups affected by prolonged trauma. They will discuss their work on COURAGE, a group intervention that combines Narrative Therapy with art techniques, to help domestic violence survivors. Husam, who is a Prague-based Palestinian Jordanian theatre director, puppeteer, facilitator, producer, and musician, will then introduce his art projects for refugee groups. Specifically, Husam will describe how puppetry and storytelling help these groups build a dialogue on the effects of cross-cultural trauma and foster community resilience. Finally, we will reflect on the role of creativity in helping to digest traumatic events from a safe distance, reframe disempowering stories to build individual and collective narratives, and strengthen resilience and hopes for the future.
Agata Vitale, Helena Enright and Husam Abbed
Bath Spa University (England), Art Practitioner, Limerick, Ireland & Bath Spa University (England),
Agata Vitale is a Senior Lecturer and Module Leader in Clinical Psychology. My research focuses on social determinants of health and minority groups, and on developing community interventions to recover from sociocultural trauma. I use art-based methodologies, including storytelling and artmaking, to foster resilience in vulnerable groups. I also have a research interest in the use of Narrative Therapy to support individuals who have been affected by multiple levels of trauma, including forced migrants and survivors of domestic abuse, and those affected by the intersection of risk factors and living with HIV.
