Art Therapy as a Strategy of the Indonesian School in Jeddah to Enhance the Resilience of Indonesian Diaspora Students
Keywords:
art therapy, resilience, diaspora students, Sekolah Indonesia Jeddah, emotional regulationAbstract
This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Art Therapy (TFAT) in enhancing the resilience of Indonesian diaspora students at Sekolah Indonesia Jeddah (SIJ). The participants were six junior high school students selected through counselor assessments based on observation and interviews. Employing a qualitative case study approach, the intervention consisted of two sessions: Safe Place (creating a symbolic space of safety) and Positive Memory (exploring positive past experiences). The findings revealed a significant shift in students’ emotional regulation, from anxiety, tension, and restlessness in the first session to happiness, motivation, and relief in the second. Artwork analysis indicated that safe place symbols highlighted the need for safety, spirituality, and stability, while positive memory themes emphasized the role of family, peers, and cultural identity in strengthening resilience. This study underscores the strategic role of Sekolah Indonesia Jeddah as a psychosocial space for diaspora students and provides implications for developing school-based interventions in Indonesian education abroad.
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