| Abstract
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The objective of this research, which is both psychological and anthropological, is to study the use of art therapy as a treatment modality with a traumatized group of Sudanese refugees known as the "Lost Boys of Sudan." A protocol developed for this study uses six art therapy projective techniques to facilitate the expression of feelings and perceptions related to remembrances from childhood, current self-image, and the future orientation of one female and eight male refugees between the ages of 22 and 35 years. The application of this paradigm is presented in nine descriptive clinical case studies. Qualitative research methodologies were used to collect data that addressed the following questions: What signs of the refugee experience, both on a conscious and unconscious level, were portrayed in the artwork? What characteristics in the artwork showed indications of trauma or pathology and what characteristics were specific to the indigenous Sudanese culture? Were the projective art techniques utilized in this research culture generic or culture bound? In the beginning phase of the research, data were collected through direct observation of (a) the participant's affect, body language, and emotional investment in the art activity during the sessions; (b) the artwork generated during the sessions; and (c) the participant's own words regarding associations and observations in response to the art. The second phase involved an in-depth content analysis of the artwork within the context of general principles of art therapy, the refugee's culture, and his or her life story. The final phase involved an assessment of the findings. The results of this study indicate that trauma was portrayed in the artwork on both a conscious and unconscious level, particularly as manifested in a hypervigilance suggestive of posttraumatic stress disorder. All participants reported experiencing recurrent painful memories. The themes of most sessions indicated an over emphasis on basic survival needs: food, water, and safety. In addition, the research showed that therapy provides a creative forum for refugee survivors to begin to explore the full continuum of memories, both positive and negative, that have long been denied.
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