Faculty Bibliography

Civil and social unrest, human rights abuses, and various acts of violence around the world continue to force many to flee their homelands in search of safety. Such chaos often results in the disintegration of social order, generating widespread gender-based violence. During such struggles, women and girls suffer disproportionately and often are targeted for brutal acts of sexual violence. For forced migrants, their traumatic experiences are further compounded by the complex and often lengthy process of seeking asylum in a host country. Drawing on a clinical case study, this article presents the case of a female asylum seeker in the United States who is a victim of sexual violence. Using Brief Recovery Program for Trauma Survivors to facilitate healing and prevent chronic posttraumatic reactions, this case highlights considerations for promoting emotional well-being within this population. In addition, this case emphasizes the importance of an interdisciplinary treatment team and comprehensive services to address the multifaceted needs of traumatized forced migrants.

The number of forced migrants arriving in the United States continues to increase. To provide effective therapeutic services and interventions for them, it is important for clinicians to understand the unique role that mental health professionals can play in improving the mental health of this diverse population. This article draws attention to the mental health needs of forced migrants and highlights considerations, such as medical, social, legal, cultural, and linguistic factors, that providing services to this population may entail. It also suggests ways in which counselors can actively, competently, and ethically address the social justice issues that impact forced migrants.

The number of refugees and asylum seekers admitted to the United States has grown, with significant numbers arriving from sub-Saharan Africa. Given this reality, it is important that mental health professionals are equipped to provide culturally relevant services. This article describes the development and implementation of a group treatment model for African male forced migrants in a large urban hospital. Therapeutic techniques that draw on African cultural traditions in order to rebuild lives, reduce symptoms, recreate familial and community connections, and support adjustment are discussed. Suggestions for future treatment and research to address African refugee mental health needs are highlighted.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the important and unique challenges that arise when using interpreters while conducting psychotherapy with forced migrants who have experienced a range of human rights abuse. Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs a practice-based evidence methodology that offers guidance to both clinicians and researchers. Findings – Working with interpreters in the clinical setting is often a challenging and complex process for which mental health professionals are rarely prepared. This paper outlines key strategies to address these challenges and limitations. Research limitations/implications – Empirically-based research is lacking and is certainly warranted. Practical implications – It is the responsibility of programs, training sites, supervisors, and institutions to help teach how to work with interpreters. Originality/value – This paper addresses how to navigate the key issues that arise through the use of interpreters in a mental health setting with forced migrants, including: initiating a therapeutic relationship with an interpreter; common issues that arise around language; setting the therapeutic frame; and addressing boundaries; acknowledging the role of culture, transference, counter transference, and vicarious trauma; screening to assess competence; training to orient interpreters to clinical work with forced migrants; in vivo feedback; assessments; and an appropriate place to process their experience.

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the development of a unique, grassroots, community-based organization, Nah We Yone (NWY), designed specifically to provide support to African refugees and asylum seekers, with a history of refugee trauma, war, and human rights abuses, who have fled to the New York City area. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews the background to, the challenges faced and the services available at NWY. Findings Described in this paper are the rationale for developing this type of organization; specific programs designed to promote well-being; and various challenges faced and lessons learned, while offering an alternate type of therapeutic intervention. Practical implications NWY demonstrates the importance of drawing on cultural and community strengths and resilience when using limited resources to serve traumatized and displaced peoples who are struggling to adjust to a new cultural setting. Originality/value This paper seeks to contribute to the literature on culturally informed therapeutic interventions developed by community-based organizations to enhance well being in forced migrants.

This article describes the implementation of a psychoeducational group treatment with students with a history of refugee trauma, war, and human rights abuses who were further traumatized by the 9/11 attacks in New York City. The rationale for group intervention and specific techniques utilized to promote emotional and behavioral stabilization and relief, including trauma education and stress management, are discussed. In addition, group-related issues, themes, and challenges are considered. This psychoeducational treatment modality provides an example of the usefulness of group intervention with a re-traumatized population.

This article discusses the creative use of the group treatment modality to provide psychosocial support to African women refugees and asylum seekers with a history of refugee trauma, war, and human rights abuses who have fled to the United States. In particular, this article describes the African Women's Wellness Group developed by Nah We Yone, Inc., a small grassroots organization in the New York City area. This women's group draws on the tenets of traditional Western group psychotherapy while using African cultural awareness to provide healing. The rationale for this type of treatment, group design, specific techniques used to provide healing, along with various group-related themes and challenges are described. This type of treatment provides an example of the usefulness of group therapy technique with traumatized displaced women struggling to survive in a new cultural setting.