ABSTRACT

This chapter presents the findings of a doctoral project aiming to design and introduce a culturally sensitive movement-based arts therapies programme in primary schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Findings based on interviews and questionnaires completed by parents and teachers suggest that the arts therapy approach adopted in this pilot study had a positive impact on the emotional wellbeing of young participants and thus, could have a preventative effect on developing depression in later life. We conclude that culturally sensitive arts therapies may be meaningfully introduced in the KSA, in schools and beyond.