Creative Interventions for Indo-Canadian Children who Experience Trauma as a Result of Being Exposed to Domestic Violence

Abstract

Domestic violence is under reported amongst South Asian communities across the globe and within the Indo-Canadian community in Canada. This is due to cultural held values and beliefs. The Indo-Canadian culture, in general, is patriarchal and has a collectivist orientation. Silence is upheld because there is a belief that family matters are private. As a result, there is little to no research available on the experience of domestic violence in this community and its families. Children are the invisible victims of domestic violence and are significantly affected by being exposed to domestic violence. Childhood trauma can be experienced by these children leading to internal and external symptoms. Play and art based therapies are evidence based treatments for children who have experienced trauma as a result of being exposed to domestic violence. This paper will review creative, trauma informed interventions that can be used in a therapeutic setting with Indo-Canadian children who have been exposed to domestic violence.