This volume addresses the complexities involved in attending to the mental health of refugees. It covers theory and research as well as clinical and field applications, emphasising the psychotherapeutic perspective. It explores the delicate balance between accepting the resilience of refugees whilst not neglecting their psychological needs, within a framework that avoids pathologising their condition. Moreover, it deals with the difficulties in delineating the various relevant intersecting perspectives to the refugee reality, e.g. psychological, socio-political, legal, organisational and ethical. The book introduces important considerations about the actual psychotherapy with refugees (in individual, family and group settings) but in addition, it encourages the introduction of therapeutic elements to all types of work with refugees. Thus, it argues for the necessity of approaching every facet of the refugee experience from a therapeutic perspective; this is why the title refers to therapeutic care rather than to psychotherapy.
This book is an in-depth practical guide for mental health practitioners working across diverse theoretical orientations to provide mental health services tailored to the needs of refugees.
This book outlines the various psychosocial impacts of immigration on cultural identity and its impact on mainstream culture. It examines how cultural identity fits into individual mental health and has to be taken into account in treatment.
This comprehensive reference book provides both background information and practical, clinical advice on all areas of nutrition for the cancer patient at all stages of their disease trajectory.
"Immigrant and Refugee Families: Global Perspectives on Displacement and Resettlement Experiences uses a family systems lens to discuss challenges and strengths of immigrant and refugee families in the United States. Chapters address immigration policy, human rights issues, economic stress, mental health and traumatic stress, domestic violence, substance abuse, family resilience, and methods of integration."--Open Textbook Library.
Mental health problems among asylum seekers and refugees are becoming a public issue, but awareness of this problem among the mental health community is relatively low. Although advances have been made in the provision of innovative mental health services for asylum seekers and refuges with PTSD, they are not systemized, and not widely known to professionals in the field. A publication offering practical guidelines for the treatment of torture victims and political refugees does not exist. Broken Spirits aims to bring together the works of the most respected mental health professionals - from the U.S. and abroad - and make available the most current knowledge on complex PTSD, forced migration and cultural sensitivity in diagnosis and treatment.
There are more than 26 million refugees in the world, and the population is expected to grow. However, there is minimal training or understanding in the mental health and social services fields that provides the awareness, knowledge, and skills to effectively work with refugees. Subsequently, this volume is intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of refugee psychosocial adjustment that incorporates cross-cultural perspectives. The text provides an all-inclusive overview of refugee acculturation and adaptation, a model of intervention to assist refugees in the process of psychosocial adjustment, case studies illustrating practical intervention applications, and country-specific interventions from unique and diverse national perspectives. Professionals working with refugees in the United States and around the world will value this volume.
This stirring and insightful book explores how family dynamics among refugees are affected by the trauma of forced migration. Written by an experienced family therapist, it uses a systemic perspective to understand the impact on couple relationships and parenting, as well as the broader issue of cultural and social assimilation. Shedding light on the complex and relational nature of the trauma experienced by refugee families, including issues around gender and mental health, Shadi Shahnavaz examines the clinical implications for those who care for them. The unique, in-depth interviews with refugees provide a rare insight into their journey to England and the adverse experiences they encounter along the way. Rather than a simple reflection on practice, Shahnavaz invites the reader to think about the ways in which they can connect with others, even in challenging and unfamiliar situations. Working Systemically with Refugee Couples and Families is essential reading for any therapist or counsellor working today.
Blackwell looks at the role of political conflict in creating refugees and introduces us to the vital importance of politics in the therapeutic context. In his discussion of forced migration and cultural transitions, he describes some of the essentials of working cross-culturally, and attunes the therapist to the influence of their own political and cultural context. This is a concise book with many complex issues introduced succinctly and outlined clearly. It ends with chapters on working with interpreters, advocacy and welfare issues, supervision, and a comprehensive list of references and resources.' - Bereavement Care 'It is most welcome to come across this easy-to-read book directed at those with responsibility for counselling or offering psychotherapy to recently arrived immigrants. Although primarily aimed at therapists, as a very broad introduction to working with refugees, it contains material relevant to social workers and health care professionals. This text does succeed in setting out a broad. introduction to the major themes of therapeutic work with refugees.' - British Journal of Social Work 'This excellent book has been written by a psychotherapist and supervisor with many years' experience at the medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, and he explains clearly and concisely the issues experienced by refugees, as well as the different areas of concern for counsellors and psychotherapists working with them. I can wholeheartedly recommend this useful, easy to read, concise and intelligently written book for anyone interested in this area of work.' - Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal 'It is rare to me to read a book in one sitting. But this slim volume more than inspires the concentration and deserves the investment. Do not be put off if you are working directly with refugees. Without doubt, the book fulfils its description as an essential tool to help counselors and psychotherapists engage with the experiences of persecution, violence and exile often faced by refugees. But the book also doubles as a concise and accessible framework for describing the role of psychotherapy in the modern world where `identity' is so problematic that an understanding of the political and cultural context is central to the task. Dick Blackwell has based the book on the work undertaken at the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture and Organized Violence where he has worked for over 16 years. His experience shines through the straightforward accessible prose with numerous nuggets of wisdom and common sense all delivered in a direct style that manages to avoid the dangers of a polemic. But what makes the book such a gem is his belief, and presumably his experience, that even in the face of appalling atrocity, a willingness to connect, to respect and to learn can build the interpersonal structure where healing can take place.' - Therapeutic Community Journal 'The different experiences of refugees and therapists are documented in separate sections, which make it easy to read. I also like the fact that the author addresses the important and often overlooked challenges of working with interpreters and the dilemma for therapists of becoming advocates. These ongoing challenges are clearly outlined and discussed in a straightforward manner, with useful insights given from the author's own experience. The book is written in a factual and easy-to-follow manner and is accessible enough to be used as a tool in the therapy process as it could be given to a client to enable them to understand the experience of psychotherapy. I found this book to be extremely useful, well laid out and a good basic manual to have on hand when trying to understand the experiences of refugees. I would highly recommend this book as a reference for those working with refugees and as a basic information pack for those who are training or preparing to begin psychotherapy work with refugees.' - Community Care This concise book is an essential tool to help counsellors and psychotherapists understand and engage with the experiences of persecution, violence and exile often faced by refugees. Dick Blackwell's unique framework is based on work carried out at the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture. It offers a flexible approach to the special circumstances of displaced and traumatized clients from different cultural and political backgrounds. The author considers four levels of experience - political, cultural, interpersonal and intrapsychic - and explores each of these in relation to both the client and therapist. He also includes practical information on advocacy, supervision and working with interpreters.
