Art Therapy with Child Tsunami Survivors in Sri Lanka

This paper details art therapy with children affected by the December 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka. Over 30,000 Sri Lankans lost their lives when the tsunami decimated coastal areas. The child survivors witnessed horrific traumatic events and the loss of loved ones, but had not been given opportunity to express their grief and pain. A 4-week art therapy intervention was implemented at a local school for 113 children ages 5 to 13. Art therapy was found to be an effective crosscultural intervention for these young tsunami survivors.