Psychology of the refugee, the immigrant and their children : Development of a conceptual framework and application to psychotherapeutic and related support work

Abstract: In recent years, awareness has grown of the necessity of understanding the inner world of refugees (in particular traumatized refugees), immigrants, and their children. These groups have come in increasing numbers to Scandinavia, and otherwise confident and capable professionals in all arenas of mental health, social work and other fields have often felt inadequate when working with them. After many years of clinical and supervisory work, Kristal-Andersson realized that there was an acute need for a treatment model that considers the specific psychology of these groups. In her view, specialized process-related training in psychotherapy and its related fields, and also in support work, is necessary to obtain psychological understanding of their difficulties, and also to build up the knowledge, insight and confidence of professionals and others in working with them. Formulating a framework and organizing a specialist form of education for various categories of professionals have been the principal goals of her research work and this subsequent doctoral dissertation. The relevance of the framework (part I of the dissertation) is evaluated through experiences of a course of practical training based upon it (part II). Part I provides a summation of over twenty-five years of Kristal-Andersson's and others? clinical and support work with refugees and immigrants. First, it describes the commonly occurring psychological and other difficulties that the individual/family faces in the new country. Second, it presents a conceptual framework or treatment model evolved over many years of clinical work, supervision and consultation. The model was derived through interaction between literature study, empirical research and clinical evaluation. Part II describes and evaluates a year-long process of training for caring professionals based on the framework, and summarizes and evaluates particular items of casework. The training was designed to expand the psychological understanding and confidence of the carers involved. Its primary purpose here is to validate the use of the conceptual framework in treatment and support work. Method, documentation and evaluation include tape recordings of the theoretical education and supervision and evaluations of these; participants? continuous oral and written evaluations; summations and reports of casework sessions; and data from three written questionnaires administered at and after the final seminar. At a scientific level, the primary purpose of this dissertation is to provide further knowledge and understanding of the specific psychological and outer difficulties of refugee and immigrant groups, and promote increased interest in this area of psychology. A further purpose is to describe a practical approach and mode of working in psychotherapy and support work with refugees and immigrants. In practical terms, it is hoped that the dissertation can assist in the development of educational, curative and preventive programs for assuring good mental health and improved social conditions for refugees, immigrants and their children. In turn, this might lead to improved adaptation and an improved social situation for them in their new country. Finally, it is hoped that the psychological knowledge obtained can help prevent and counteract discrimination, prejudice and tension, and lead to more open and sensitive attitudes towards these groups in the societies to which they now belong.