This qualitative study explored the experiences of creative arts therapists working with children with special educational needs (SEN) who were exposed to violence, within the Arab community in Israel, using an intersectional lens.
Therapists reported that healing occurred within layered social contexts — navigating intersecting factors such as cultural identity, disability, gender, and family exposure to violence — and that the creative arts modality provided a unique, culturally sensitive space for these children.
Findings are based on therapist perspectives only, with no direct data from children or families; the qualitative design limits generalizability; the specific sociocultural context of Arab society in Israel may not transfer to other settings.
Clinicians working with SEN children from minority communities exposed to violence should consider intersecting identities (culture, disability, gender) when designing arts-based interventions. Creative arts therapies may offer a culturally adaptive therapeutic space where verbal approaches are less accessible.
Explore related topics
