The National Capacity Building (NCB) Project at the Center for Victims of Torture and the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma is pleased to announce this recorded webinar, held on October 2, 2025, on “The Role of Expressive Arts in Healing: Steps to an Ecosystem of Healing”.
Session Description
This presentation will introduce two concepts developed by the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma (HPRT): The H5 model and the Healing Environments and Restorative Therapies (H.E.A.R.T.) approach. The presenter will explain how creative and arts-based exercises and nature metaphors can support healing psychosocial wounds caused by human-made and natural disasters. Using specific case examples from consultation work being done with Ukrainian teachers and psychologists, the presenter will introduce an arts-based, nature-oriented extension of the H.E.A.R.T. approach, referred to as “Ecosystem of Healing” exercises.
Learning Objectives
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Describe the core components of the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma H5/H.E.A.R.T. model and Healing Environment concept
- Explain how utilizing therapeutic metaphor and creative projects support hopefulness, connection, and healing for individuals who have experienced (dis)place(ment)
- Identify at least two “Ecosystem of Healing” exercises and describe how they can support psychosocial recovery from trauma and displacement.
Target Audience
This webinar is intended for staff of torture rehabilitation programs that are funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement and/or are members of the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs, SASIC Program staff, as well as others who provide services to survivors of torture.
Resources
- PowerPoint of Presentation
- My Home is where I am From – Download this Word Document
- Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma’s Animal Metaphors
- Vela Well-being
- Learn more about Lesley University’s Expressive Arts Program
Books recommended during the webinar
- Malchiodi, C. A. (2020). Trauma and expressive arts therapy: Brain, body, and imagination in the healing process. The Guilford Press.
Trauma and Expressive Arts Therapy.
Click here to purchase from Guildford Press. - Scarce, J. (2022). Art therapy in response to natural disasters, mass violence, and crises. Great Britain: Jessica Kingsley.
Click here to purchase from Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
References
- Bateson, G. (1972). Steps to an Ecology of Mind. University of Chicago.
- Coleman, R. (2013). Recovery and Hearing Voices [Conference presentation]. International Narrative Therapy and Community Work Conference, Adelaide, Australia. https://dulwichcentre.com.au/five-video-clips-from-ron-coleman/
- Keeney, H. & Keeney, B. (2012). Circular Therapeutics. Zeig, Tucker & Theisen.
- Mageary, J., Glenn-Wixson, J., Sivan, V., Roberts, R., Vlahakis, V., Rose, M., Gaffney, D. (2015). Visual Reflections: Taking Outsider Witnessing Beyond Words. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 34(3), 43-58.
- McLaughlin, S., Klauck, L., Eshel, M., Ramirez, K., Govoni, D., & Mageary, J. (2023). Decolonizing internal and external borders: Reflections on therapeutic engagements with asylum seekers. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2023.102083
- Miller, W.R. (2024). 8 Ways to Hope: Creatinga Path Through Uncertain Times. The Guilford Press.
- Mollica, R.F., Brooks, R.T., Ekblad, S. & McDonald, L. (2015). The New H5 Model of Refugee Trauma and Recovery. In J. Lindert and I. Levav (eds.), Violence and Mental Health. (p. 341-378). Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
- Ramirez, K., Kossak, M. & Mageary, J. (2021). Voces Arts and Healing: Working on the US-Mexico Border with Asylum Seekers. In J. Scarce (Ed.), Art Therapy in Response to Natural Disasters, Mass Violence, and Crises. London, England: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Southwick, S. M., & Charney, D. S. (2012). Resilience: The science of mastering life’s greatest challenges. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139013857
- Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking Penguin.
- Zeig, J.K. (2019). Evocation: Enhancing the Psychotherapeutic Encounter. The Milton H. Erickson Foundation Press.
Presenters:
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Joe Mageary , Associate Provost for Mental Health and Wellbeing at Lesley University in Cambridge