Helping Refugees Overcome Trauma Through Storytelling & Drama Therapy: A Conversation with Catherine Maguire-Donvito

In this conversation, Catherine Maguire-Donvito, Co-founder and Director of Treehouse Theatre, shares the program’s unique approach to supporting refugee adolescents through storytelling and theatrical performance. The initiative is designed to facilitate trauma recovery and raise awareness about the refugee experience among high school students. Catherine emphasizes the importance of building trust and connection among participants before delving into their trauma stories. She explains how narrative exposure therapy helps them develop new cognitive networks and process their traumatic experiences effectively. Catherine also recounts memorable performances and the ripple effect of these performances on both participants and viewers, underscoring the need for empathy and understanding in addressing the refugee crisis. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction(00:28) - The Treehouse Program(03:43) - Origins of the Treehouse Program(04:31) - Storytelling as a Path to Connection(05:55) - Art Therapy for Trauma Recovery(06:43) - Sharing Happy Stories Before Trauma(07:22) - Creating a Sense of Belonging(08:01) - Building Confidence Through Performance(09:02) - The Healing Power of the Program(10:17) - Grief, Loss, and Rejection(11:44) - Curiosity and Respect for Individual Stories(13:08) - The World’s Response and Responsibility(14:26) - Changing Perceptions and Fostering EmpathyLink to Treehouse theatre: https://treehousetheatre.org.au/ Cast From the Storm trailer: https://youtu.be/zRF-yDMVYdk Tedx Video - Missing" Shalah's Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MplBF_AYYfM ---Thank you for listening to From There To Here!If our guest's story resonated with you, please like, follow and rate the podcast – that would make a massive difference to the production of the show.I was your host Emma Bellamy, and I can’t wait to bring you on another journey From There to Here!LinkedIn || Instagram || Spotify || Apple PodcastsThis podcast brought to you in partnership with Kintsugi Heroes. To find out more, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.