In 2018 The Community Foundation for Ireland funded Cuan Saor, a women’s refuge that provides services and support to women who have experienced domestic abuse. We provided a grant of €5,700 to go towards an 8 week art therapy programme for women in the South Tipperary region who had experienced domestic abuse. The project was provided in both a group setting and a one-on-one setting depending on each woman’s needs.
Therapy through art
Art therapy is a valuable form of psychotherapy where art is used to express feelings which otherwise may be very difficult to articulate. All forms of expression are valued and respected equally without judgement. The main aim of this project is to give residents in the refuge a safe and contained space to express their trauma through the medium of art. Many women who have experienced domestic violence are silenced and find it difficult to articulate their experiences; this project aims to give the women a voice through the creative process of art therapy.
The other objectives of this project were to aid the emotional expression of the participants, help them discover aspects of strength and resilience in themselves and to establish an art therapy programme. The project directly benefitted nine women as well as indirectly benefitting their families and children. The small numbers reflect the in-depth nature of the work involved. The project covered different themes around the participant’s experiences of domestic abuse including its meaning, isolation, self-worth and others.
Picture Power
Some clients were initially reluctant to take part but afterwards were able to articulate their images and experiences in a clear and helpful way. One participant described feeling “smashed into the ground” and adds “I couldn’t recognise myself. It’s like being thrown into a bottomless pool and not being able to swim. I could not have got to the edge without the ring boy of the two services who guided me through this very black tunnel.”
The project has highlighted the importance of using creative therapeutic approaches in addressing traumatic experiences in a manner that is supportive and creative. The funding provided has been critical in allowing Cuan Saor to deliver this creative and impactful intervention and they are looking forward to finding longer term funding to fully integrate art therapy into their services. This grant and all the activity from our Women’s Fund shows our continued commitment and support to women’s groups and issues.