Art for change: Art therapy helps boy who fled war keep nightmares at bay

The text below has been extracted from the article, ‘Art therapy helps a boy who fled war keep the nightmares at bay’, by Gisèle Nyembwe for UNHCR. Photo: UNHCR/Giovanni Capriotti

Art therapy is helping Miguel, a six-year-old refugee in Canada, manage fear and anxiety. Conflict in Colombia killed his grandmother and forced his family into exile. Making a cage out of clay to trap the ‘villain’ has allowed Miguel to confront and work through his agonizing feelings, in order to better cope with them. Furthermore, drawing has enabled him to address feelings of isolation and anger, and make the connection between his behaviour and his interactions with others. Read more