Art Therapy — Two articles related to treatment of Jihadists
Articles
#1 Art Therapy for Al-Qaeda and ISIS Aspirants
#2 Treating Saudi Arabian Jihadists With Art Therapy
DESCRIPTION
The articles describe a program in Saudi Arabia wherein young men who have jihadist, Al-Qaeda and Isis leanings under reeducation, rehabilitation, religious training, as well as vocational training. The program is aimed at real change in attitude and behaviors. In addition, art therapy is added to the program as a change agent and to get at deeper meaning that cannot be brought out by verbal means. The author of the article raises many questions about the program including methodological issues and outcome measures. The article is worth reading to determine whether programs can stimulate real change. Additionally, the NPR source contains an audio section of the news cast regarding this program.
SOURCES & LINKS TO RESOURCES
#1 — Psychology Today, April 8, 2015, Post published by Neil K Aggarwal MD in Mental Health in the War on Terror
(shortened url) http://tinyurl.com/lha3fft
#2 — NPR.org, April 5, 2015, by Deborah Amos (story and audio file)
Treating Saudi Arabian Jihadists With Art Therapy
(shortened url) http://tinyurl.com/pxbmtj4
CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
•Begin with a discussion as to why “youth” (late adolescents and young adults) are more likely to join movements and cults. Discussing Erikson’s stages (particularly the adolescent stage of “Identity vs Role Confusion”) would be helpful.
•Regarding adjunctive therapies ask: “what is art therapy?”
•Focus on adjunctive therapies: those that are empirically validated (e.g., Art, Music, Dance/Movement Therapies) and those that are not (e.g., Therapeutic Touch, Thought Field Therapy (TFT), Conversion Therapy)
•How are techniques of psychotherapy empirically validated? What are the methodological issues that are discussed in the article?
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