title: Art therapy and mindfulness with survivors of political violence: A qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study's objective was to understand how art therapy and mindfulness meditation could be integrated together in the context of different cultures and political violence and in work with asylum seekers suffering from trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a qualitative phenomenological study based on the social construction paradigm. Twelve participants took part in 4 intensive full-day art therapy and mindfulness workshops. The study's setting was an art therapy and mindfulness studio (Inhabited Studio) in Hong Kong where participants engaged in art making and in mindfulness-meditation practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Different aspects of the Inhabited Studio appealed to participants based on each individual's worldview, culture, religion, and coping style. Responses to the Inhabited Studio were organized into 7 thematic clusters. Five themes were categorized into 2 broad categories composed of personal elements (memory, identity) and mediating aspects (emotional/self-regulation, communication, and imagination). The final 2, resilience and worldview, spanned both areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants found the Inhabited Studio culturally compatible and some of the skills they learned helpful in times of stress. This points to how this combination can contribute to building resilience. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Centre on Behavioural Health, University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kalmanowitz
authors.affiliation: Centre on Behavioural Health, University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Rainbow T H
authors.initials: RTH
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001155:Art Therapy; D003142:Communication; D003469:Culture; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D000069581:Exposure to Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D011057:Politics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult