AUTHOR=Doron Einat 

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

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.598917

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2020.598917

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Abstract
The present paper presents the potential benefits and conflicts of the encounter between Jewish ultra-orthodox 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 eight-year-old ultra-orthodox 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.