Art Therapy With Jewish Ultra-Orthodox Children: Unique Characteristics, Benefits, and Conflicts

Abstract

The paper presents the potential benefits and conflicts of the encounter between Jewish ultra-orthodox (UO) children-belonging to a closed and segregated group-and art therapy-with its cultural, Western, secular, and professional characteristics. The paper describes the complex interface between the therapeutic use of art as a form of free expression and religious commandments and restrictions. The dialogue between art, therapy, and cultural religious boundaries is described through a case study of an 8-yearold UO boy and a secular female art therapist. Issues such as self-expression, gender roles, and identity exploration are discussed, emphasizing the unique characteristics, benefits, and conflicts of such an encounter.

Ultra-Orthodox Parents’ Perceptions of Arts Therapies for Their Children

“…The current study examined the perceptions of ultra-Orthodox parents towards their children’s ongoing arts therapies. This study complements a previous work that examined art therapy for ultra-Orthodox adults [ 34 ] and publications that have examined arts therapies for ultra-Orthodox children from the therapists’ points of view [ 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…Despite the greater interest in arts therapies among the Jewish ultra-Orthodox in recent years [ 7 ], there is scant research on these therapies in general and in ultra-Orthodox children in particular. The few studies that have examined arts therapies for ultra-Orthodox children [ 7 , 8 , 9 ] have all focused on the therapists’ perspective. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies dealing with the perspectives of ultra-Orthodox parents with respect to arts therapies for ultra-Orthodox children.…”

“…Thus, clients tended to screen the therapist’s lifestyle and perceptions [ 34 ], which at times led to hesitation in establishing a therapeutic relationship or simply to dropping out [ 7 ]. However, the cultural gap can at times increase clients’ sense of comfort and openness given the negligible likelihood of disclosure of complex issues to the ultra-Orthodox community [ 7 , 8 ]. The studies described above also indicate that arts therapies can provide ultra-Orthodox clients with an indirect and less threatening way to express content that cannot be talked about elsewhere and a means of self-disclosure [ 7 , 8 , 34 ].…”

“…However, the cultural gap can at times increase clients’ sense of comfort and openness given the negligible likelihood of disclosure of complex issues to the ultra-Orthodox community [ 7 , 8 ]. The studies described above also indicate that arts therapies can provide ultra-Orthodox clients with an indirect and less threatening way to express content that cannot be talked about elsewhere and a means of self-disclosure [ 7 , 8 , 34 ]. A case study on art therapy for an ultra-Orthodox child provided by a non-Orthodox therapist noted that the potential benefits of art therapy for ultra-Orthodox children include the possibility of expressing negative emotions in an indirect way, which reduces the children’s fear of violating cultural norms, religious laws or tarnishing their good name.…”

“…A case study on art therapy for an ultra-Orthodox child provided by a non-Orthodox therapist noted that the potential benefits of art therapy for ultra-Orthodox children include the possibility of expressing negative emotions in an indirect way, which reduces the children’s fear of violating cultural norms, religious laws or tarnishing their good name. The author suggested that art therapy can give the ultra-Orthodox child some modicum of freedom of choice, beyond what is authorized in the community [ 8 ].…”