Trauma Counseling: Trauma and Refugees

Description

Every year, thousands of refugees resettle in the U.S. after fleeing areas of conflict around the globe. Refugees have often experienced or witnessed extremely stressful events due to political or religious oppression, war, civil unrest, natural disasters or migration. When refugees resettle to a host country, they must adapt to a new place and language under uncertain circumstances and with uncertain futures. Neurological, Psychological, Social, Familial and Individual Aspects Trauma and stress experienced prior to arriving and during the resettlement process increases the risk of poor mental health prognoses for refugees. How can those in the helping professions provide culturally sensitive care that supports refugees and helps counteract the effects of trauma? This workshop will give counselors, social workers and others in the helping professions a greater understanding of the neurological, physiological, psychological and emotional aspects of trauma, as well as cultural factors that can impact service delivery to refugee clients. We will identify common interventions used in the United States and a framework of best practice when working with refugee clients. We will also explore ways to overcome language and cultural barriers in order to engage refugee clients and achieve desired clinical outcomes. Objectives • Identify the social, familial, individual, and cultural backgrounds of several distinct refugee groups resettling in the U.S. in general, and in the Midwest in particular. • Describe the neurological, physiological, psychological and emotional aspects of trauma. • Explain the limitations of the helping professions' typical screening instruments when used with refugee populations. • Define commonly used interventions in the U.S., both in country and culturally specific, for individuals with a history of trauma. • Identify the cultural factors for several refugee groups which impact service delivery by the helping professions.