Experience of Latvian arts therapists working with Ukrainian refugees: interpretative phenomenological analysis

Background: Since 2022, millions of people have fled the Ukrainian war, seeking refuge and psychological support in other countries. One of the ways to improve their psychological well-being is through arts therapy. Although much research has focused specifically on the refugee experience, few studies have investigated the experiences of arts therapists themselves in working with refugees. Aims: This current study aims to explore and describe the experience of Latvian arts therapists working with Ukrainian war refugees (UWRs). Methods: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with six arts therapists who had experience working with UWRs. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the generated data. Results: Four superordinate themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) self-reflection on work with UWRs, (2) perspectives on clients’ needs, attitudes and reactions, (3) perceived challenges of work with UWRs, and (4) perceived benefits of work with UWRs. Conclusions: The study highlights the multifaceted experience of Latvian arts therapists working with UWRs. It recognises the therapists’ capacity to provide valuable assistance to UWRs and also notes the challenges to be considered in such work. Implication for practice and policy: The study is useful for arts therapists in other countries, enabling them to be prepared to work with this group of clients. It may be relevant to other health professionals working regularly with UWRs or other refugees. It also informs the work of education providers training mental health professionals for work with war refugees. Plain-language summary: Since 2022, many people have left Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict, seeking assistance and safety in other countries. Some of these individuals have experienced trauma and emotional distress. Arts therapy has been recognised as helpful for improving the mental health of these refugees. However, while there has been much research on refugees’ experiences of arts therapy, research on the perspectives of arts therapists themselves is rarer. This study looked at the experiences of arts therapists in Latvia working with Ukrainian refugees. The research team interviewed six Latvian arts therapists, and found four main themes: (1) self-reflection on work with UWRs, (2) perspectives on clients’ needs, attitudes and reactions, (3) perceived challenges of work with UWRs, and (4) perceived benefits of work with UWRs. The findings show that the support arts therapists offer to Ukrainian refugees is important, but that their experiences are complex. Moreover, the study suggests that arts therapists could benefit from clear guidelines on how to assist war refugees. This could be important for shaping policies and practices related to helping refugees in similar situations.