The Jewish –Arab cross cultural encounter in creative arts therapies in Israel: The therapist's experience

The Jewish-Arab cross-cultural encounter in therapy poses unique challenges to the therapeutic relationship, shaped by the ongoing cultural-political conflict in Israel. ¹ 1 This manuscript was written prior to the October 7th 2023 war. This encounter reflects the complex historical and current dynamics between the two cultures. This study explored the experiences of 22 creative arts therapists working with clients from the opposite cultural sector, focusing on their personal experiences and understanding of art's roles in cross-cultural therapy. Participants created drawings expressing their experiences, followed by semi-structured interviews. The drawings were analyzed phenomenologically, and the interviews underwent reflexive thematic analysis. Data analysis revealed three main themes: 1) "Creating a connection despite the border" – therapists' emotional experiences in cross-cultural therapy and art as a space for meeting the other; 2) Ethnocultural transference and countertransference, sometimes reflecting the political conflict; and 3) Growth of cultural competency and humility during therapy. The findings are discussed through a relational psychoanalytic lens, the concept of the racist self, and cultural competency. Limitations and future research are also addressed.