Art Therapy Studio at a Time of Emergency

The art therapy studio can be a meaningful mental health response, for individuals and communities, at times of emergency. In the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event, the open studio can serve as psychological first aid (PFA), restoration of individual, community and social functioning, building of resilience, prevention of acute stress response and the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In response to the events of October 7, 2023, and the resulting Israel–Hamas war, approximately fifty art therapy studios were established across Israel (Jewish and Arab cities and villages). The studios supported evacuated people at a time of crisis. This paper looks at the art therapy studio as a context for psychological first aid.