From global phenomenon to framework for living: using the beautiful game creatively to provide therapeutic care for unaccompanied male adolescents seeking asylum in Ireland

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore, through the composite character of Jaheem, a 16-year-old unaccompanied male from sub Saharan Africa seeking asylum in Ireland (UMSA), the different ways in which football, experienced as a global physical pursuit, a lingua franca and an important site of participation and belonging, can facilitate the development of the therapeutic relationship and the building of coping skills in creative psychotherapy. Design/methodology/approach The composite narrative approach draws on notes taken by the author immediately after the psychotherapy sessions of seven UMSA between 2016 and 2019, for whom football became part of the therapy process. The experiences captured in the notes were combined and are re-presented and explored through the composite character of Jaheem. Findings Drawing on the different facets of football was a key factor in developing the therapeutic relationship. This progressed naturally into using player images to identify and explore the expression of difficult feelings, using football talk as a lingua franca and exploring experiences through football as a metaphor for life. Research limitations/implications The risk of Jaheem not being representative of the seven UMSA was mitigated by the psychotherapist’s expertise in this context which informed her judgement of what to include in a meaningful and representative composite. Originality/value Using the rarely used composite narrative approach to capture the potential of engaging with the football theme in a therapeutic setting with UMSA males.