'Tekoon bede': Cross cultural applications of expressive therapies with families from Iran

Last year in 2016 Foundation House facilitated a five-week pilot program was for young children and their parents with asylum seeker backgrounds from Iran currently residing in Melbourne, VIC. The children were all male age... [ view full abstract ]

Last year in 2016 Foundation House facilitated a five-week pilot program was for young children and their parents with asylum seeker backgrounds from Iran currently residing in Melbourne, VIC. The children were all male age 5-6 years. The families were all living in the community, from mixed religious backgrounds and both parents of the children participated. The program was a group called 'Tekoon bede', named after a contemporary Iranian song, and employed music, movement/yoga and art-based activities with guest facilitators and a Farsi interpreter.

The aim of the program was to engage these families in order to strengthen child-parent and peer relationships, develop a sense of safety, mastery and confidence, and to support regulation of emotions. 'Tekoon bede' also sought to introduce playfulness and spark social and community connectedness. There was a commitment to the families informing the development of the program. The pre and post consultation with parents contributed to the development of the program and to exploring the impact of the group on the families. The information gathered was qualitative in nature with first-hand accounts, self-reports, observation and photo documentation.

‘Tekoon bede’ was informed by principles of how movement, music, rhythm, and other expressive practices can generate healing, foster relationships as well as enhancing physical and emotional regulation and balance. While there is a growing literature around the value of relationally-focussed, brain-based and body-oriented practices, we realised that there is very little written about the application of these ideas, especially in a group context and when working across language and culture. As such, it seems timely to share about ‘Tekoon bede’, to generate new thinking and dialogue, and to contribute critically to the body of knowledge about expressive and experiential approaches to therapeutic work.