TY - JOUR
T1 - Voice of Light
T2 - Piloting a visual arts psycho-social recovery program with Australian veterans and first responders
AU - Kaur, Jasjit
AU - Bowen, Henry
AU - Paterson, Jessica L.
PY - 2025/4
Y1 - 2025/4
N2 - Military and emergency services personnel have an increased prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the general population. These populations also exhibit high dropout rates from traditional therapies as they may struggle to cope with their emotionally demanding nature. Therefore, providing military and emergency services personnel with alternative forms of therapy is beneficial to enhance engagement, comfort, and social connectedness, to help diffuse the emotionally demanding nature of interacting with trauma, preventing early termination of the therapy. The present study explored the acceptability and feasibility of the Voice of Light Program (VOLP). VOLP is a peer-facilitated, group psycho-social recovery program for military and emergency services personnel. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the conclusion of the program to capture participants’ perceptions and experiences of the program. The data gathered from interviews was analysed using thematic analysis; five themes encompassing seven sub-themes regarding the acceptability and feasibility of the program were identified. These themes included creative and innovative outlet, comforting and safe environment, therapeutic elements, influence of the VOLP, and improvements for the future programs. The observations from this study regarding the need of military cultural competency in the development of the program and trauma-informed care in the content of the program, can be utilised for the development of an acceptable and feasible program for military and emergency services personnel, for future studies.
AB - Military and emergency services personnel have an increased prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the general population. These populations also exhibit high dropout rates from traditional therapies as they may struggle to cope with their emotionally demanding nature. Therefore, providing military and emergency services personnel with alternative forms of therapy is beneficial to enhance engagement, comfort, and social connectedness, to help diffuse the emotionally demanding nature of interacting with trauma, preventing early termination of the therapy. The present study explored the acceptability and feasibility of the Voice of Light Program (VOLP). VOLP is a peer-facilitated, group psycho-social recovery program for military and emergency services personnel. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the conclusion of the program to capture participants’ perceptions and experiences of the program. The data gathered from interviews was analysed using thematic analysis; five themes encompassing seven sub-themes regarding the acceptability and feasibility of the program were identified. These themes included creative and innovative outlet, comforting and safe environment, therapeutic elements, influence of the VOLP, and improvements for the future programs. The observations from this study regarding the need of military cultural competency in the development of the program and trauma-informed care in the content of the program, can be utilised for the development of an acceptable and feasible program for military and emergency services personnel, for future studies.
KW - Emergency services
KW - Military
KW - Program
KW - Trauma
KW - Visual arts
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105001412105&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.aip.2025.102290
DO - 10.1016/j.aip.2025.102290
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105001412105
SN - 0197-4556
VL - 93
JO - Arts in Psychotherapy
JF - Arts in Psychotherapy
M1 - 102290
ER -