Using the Expressive Arts with Children and Young People Who Have Experienced Trauma

This guide has been written to accompany the book The Silent Selkie, a children’s story about trauma and offers gentle, creative ways for adults to work with children and young people who have faced adverse childhood experiences.

This guidebook:

• explores the themes of the story and offers guidance to the adult as they use expressive arts to give the child or young person a way to process their emotional experiences.
• supports trusted adults around the child or young person to understand trauma, its impact and how to respond appropriately and sensitively to the child.
• provides techniques, exercises, and activities to encourage healthy creative expression and to help the child or young person to understand trauma, its impact and what can help.

Using this guide may be a first step on a young person’s journey towards healing, making this an ideal tool for adults working with children who have experienced trauma, such as SENDCos, teachers, teaching assistants and family support workers.

For effective use, this book should be purchased alongside the storybook. Both books can be purchased together as a set, Supporting Children and Young People Who Have Experienced Trauma, 978-0-367-63944-0