Managing Trauma in Trafficked Children Using a Game Intervention at the Touch a Life Care Center
Publication Date: 05/01/2020
Author(s): Jennifer Naa Ayorkor Koney, Barfo Boateng , Effie Koomson.
Volume/Issue: Volume 2 , Issue 3 (2020)
Abstract:
Studies show that, art therapy is very vital in managing children with some form of emotional or psychological disturbance. (Malchiodi, 2012). This study concentrates on art therapy in the management of trauma in children at the Touch-a-Life-Care-Centre in Ghana. Majority of these children have been rescued from trafficking on the Volta Lake. The main objectives of this research were: To find out the type of therapies that existed at the Touch-a-Life-Care-Centre. Also, to examine the therapies used as interventions at the Centre. And finally, to introduce and test for potency of a game-based intervention as an additional intervention for managing trauma in victims (children). The study is a case study which adopted the exploratory research approach with questionnaire, observation and interview as data collection instruments. The study also used Scratch software to design the game intervention. The results obtained from the studies showed that the use of game intervention in Art Therapy for managing traumatized children at the Touch-a-Life-Care-Centre helps to transform the lives of children by revamping their concentration and sustain their interest for a longer period in the art class. The introduction of the game-based intervention was also warmly welcomed by the children at the Touch-a-Life-Care-Centre. It is recommended that, the Game Intervention in Art therapy should be incorporated in the school curriculum. Lastly, there is the need for the recruitment of art therapy specialists in our public health facilities to promote effective intervention and improve the overall wellbeing of children who participate in clinical art therapy sessions.
