Using Creative Techniques With Children Who Have Experienced Trauma

TLDR

Young children who have experienced trauma often struggle with verbal and emotional expression, so creative methods such as puppets, sandtray, letter writing, and art serve as therapeutic outlets. Puppets and sandtray enable children to depersonalize and externalize feelings, allowing counselors to gain insight into coping strategies in a safe, nonverbal manner. Letter writing and art empower children, fostering hope, and overall creative techniques help counselors explore trauma narratives with young clients.

Abstract

Verbal and emotional forms of expression can be difficult for young children who have experienced trauma. Creative methods and approaches such as puppets, sandtray, letter writing, and art are therapeutic mediums that provide an outlet for a young client's story of trauma to be told. Children can use puppets to depersonalize and share feelings with a counselor that would provide insight into their coping strategies. Similarly, sandtray is another nonverbal approach that gives children the opportunity to externalize their feelings safely and can be easily used with extroverted and introverted clients. Letter writing and art can empower children and give them hope for the future. In summary, creative techniques can allow counselors to help explore stories of trauma with young clients.