Empowering Students in the Trauma-Informed Classroom Through Expressive Arts Therapy

Abstract

Teachers and school staff are noting an increase in disruptive and aggressive behaviour within the classroom and safety within our schools continues to be questioned. Students arriving in the classroom have diverse backgrounds, which include trauma. For students to feel safe within the classroom they must feel a true sense of belonging; understanding their identity within the classroom context will begin to empower each student to create an environment where they belong. Psychoeducational therapy is one approach that is successfully combined with expressive arts therapy and trauma-informed therapy to facilitate empowerment in students. Restoring each student’s identity within the classroom while addressing the underlying cause of disruptive behaviour will promote social healing.Keywords: student empowerment; trauma-informed classroom; expressive arts therapy; trauma