A Safe Space to Be Heard: Psychological Support in Action

By Duaa – Art Therapy Teacher

In a world burdened with difficult experiences, inclusion becomes a vital space for growth and recovery. Through our support sessions, we strive to provide a safe environment where every child feels heard, their feelings valued, and that they truly belong. Here, we believe that expression is the beginning of healing, and that art, words, and dialogue can reopen doors of hope.

Psychological support encompasses all members of the community and is not limited to any particular group. It aims to help children and students of all ages and backgrounds express their feelings in healthy and safe ways.

The psychological support sessions fostered a spirit of cooperation among the students, as they worked together in a safe environment based on mutual respect and participation. They learned how to support one another, listen to their peers' opinions, and accept their differences, which contributed to building positive bonds and a strong sense of belonging within the group.

Through psychological support sessions, each child is allowed to share their thoughts, fears, and life experiences, which enhances their sense of security and belonging within the group.

Psychological support also strengthens bonds between individuals through interactive activities that encourage self-expression. In our sessions, we utilized a variety of skills and tools in psychological support.

We used puppets as a means of expression, allowing students to project their repressed feelings and situations onto the puppets and express them safely and indirectly. Drawing was also considered an important form of emotional release, allowing us to identify some of the pressures we were experiencing. Drawing wasn't limited to expressing reality; we also used it to set future goals by imagining the future and drawing our dreams and aspirations.

Through writing, the students were able to express their thoughts and feelings more deeply, and some even turned to poetry to describe their feelings and experiences in their own unique style.

Individual psychological support was also provided to some students who were experiencing significant stress, offering them a deeper and more private space for expression and support.

Through these sessions, the students were able to release a large part of their pent-up emotions and actively participate in the face-to-face meetings held at the center. During these meetings, the students shared their drawings and discussed them in depth; some recited poems, some spoke about their dreams, and some shared texts they had written themselves. Psychological support has become a real space for healing and expression, and a bridge to building inner and community peace, where every student felt that their voice was heard, that their feelings mattered, and that they had a role in building a safer and more hopeful future.