Nataly Woollett1, Monica Bandeira2, Abigail Hatcher3. 1. Wits School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, 60 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa. Electronic address: woollettn@gmail.com. 2. Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI), P.O. Box 23076, Randburg, 2167, South Africa. Electronic address: monica.bandeira@repssi.org. 3. Wits School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, 60 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa; Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, San Francisco, 94105, USA. Electronic address: hatchera@globalhealth.ucfs.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: While intimate partner violence (IPV) has well documented impact on women and children, few interventions have been tested for mothers and children in the domestic violence shelter system. OBJECTIVE: We used mixed methods to explore effects of a pilot intervention combining trauma focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT) (verbal therapy method) with art and play therapy (non-verbal therapy methods) in New York City and Johannesburg, to compare efficacy between high and low-middle income contexts. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: School-aged children and their mothers from one domestic violence shelter in each city were invited to participate. METHODS: Children were screened for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Children participated in a weekly group session lasting 1-2 hours over 12 weeks and mothers received 3 group sessions. Quantitative data comprised pre-and post-intervention child self-reports (n = 21) and mother's report (n = 16) of child depressive and PTSD symptoms. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with children (n = 11) and mothers (n = 8) who completed the intervention. RESULTS: At baseline, children showed high rates of symptoms of probable depression and probable PTSD (33 % and 66 % respectively). By endline, depressive symptoms significantly reduced (mean of 13.7-8.3,p = 0.01) and there was a non-significant trend towards PTSD improvement (40.0-34.4, p = 0.21). Children revealed the art helped them express difficult emotions and experiences with their mothers. Multiple children felt it assisted in managing challenging behaviours. CONCLUSION: This pilot trauma-informed art and play therapy group intervention holds promise in mitigating the effects of IPV for children and mothers in domestic violence shelters.
BACKGROUND: While intimate partner violence (IPV) has well documented impact on women and children, few interventions have been tested for mothers and children in the domestic violence shelter system. OBJECTIVE: We used mixed methods to explore effects of a pilot intervention combining trauma focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT) (verbal therapy method) with art and play therapy (non-verbal therapy methods) in New York City and Johannesburg, to compare efficacy between high and low-middle income contexts. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: School-aged children and their mothers from one domestic violence shelter in each city were invited to participate. METHODS:Children were screened for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Children participated in a weekly group session lasting 1-2 hours over 12 weeks and mothers received 3 group sessions. Quantitative data comprised pre-and post-intervention child self-reports (n = 21) and mother's report (n = 16) of childdepressive and PTSD symptoms. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with children (n = 11) and mothers (n = 8) who completed the intervention. RESULTS: At baseline, children showed high rates of symptoms of probable depression and probable PTSD (33 % and 66 % respectively). By endline, depressive symptoms significantly reduced (mean of 13.7-8.3,p = 0.01) and there was a non-significant trend towards PTSD improvement (40.0-34.4, p = 0.21). Children revealed the art helped them express difficult emotions and experiences with their mothers. Multiple children felt it assisted in managing challenging behaviours. CONCLUSION: This pilot trauma-informed art and play therapy group intervention holds promise in mitigating the effects of IPV for children and mothers in domestic violence shelters.
Authors: Karin Alice Schouten; Susan van Hooren; Jeroen W Knipscheer; Rolf J Kleber; Giel J M Hutschemaekers Journal: J Trauma Dissociation Date: 2018-08-15
Authors: Marylene Cloitre; Bradley C Stolbach; Judith L Herman; Bessel van der Kolk; Robert Pynoos; Jing Wang; Eva Petkova Journal: J Trauma Stress Date: 2009-09-30
Authors: Lisa Arai; Ali Shaw; Gene Feder; Emma Howarth; Harriet MacMillan; Theresa H M Moore; Nicky Stanley; Alison Gregory Journal: Trauma Violence Abuse Date: 2019-07-01
Authors: Victoria Williamson; Ian Butler; Mark Tomlinson; Sarah Skeen; Hope Christie; Jackie Stewart; Sarah L Halligan Journal: J Trauma Stress Date: 2017-10