Longing and belonging: making mobiles in art therapy with young Ukrainian refugees

Abstract

Background: Displaced young people are at risk of adverse effects on their psychological wellbeing due to their experiences of war and resettlement. Art therapy can offer a safe space in which to address trauma and promote resilience.Context: This paper describes art therapy with a group of displaced Ukrainians aged 13–16 in a British secondary school. It focuses on the activity of making hanging mobiles in order to explore conflicted feelings around home and belonging.Approach: The intervention was informed by theories of resilience, with the intention of preventing the negative effects of traumatic experience by providing opportunities for creativity and reflection. The need of young refugees to experience psychological safety in order to continue with the developmental tasks of adolescence was also considered.Outcomes: Half of the group found the activity beneficial in gaining insight into conflicting feelings around belonging and providing a positive experience of agency and control through creativity. The other half of the group benefitted less and found it difficult to reflect on their artmaking. ‘Feelings’ Cups’, an outcome measure devised for the group, was used alongside the YP-Core (Clinical Outcomes for Routine Evaluation for Young People) together with verbal and written feedback.Conclusions: The mobile-making activity has potential for use with dislocated young people and others in a position of uncertainty and change.Implications for research: There is a need for more research to examine and evidence the role art therapy can play in promoting resilience in displaced young people.

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