Abstract
Migration is a pervasive feature of our globalized world. It is inextricably linked with issues of human rights and trauma and frequently occurs in such contexts as war, family abuse or state-sponsored persecution, and/or situations that deprive the migrant of their economic, civil, or political rights. Certain subgroups of migrants are especially vulnerable. In this chapter, an integrated trauma-informed human rights-based (TI-HR) approach to working with refugees and asylum seekers is presented through the lens of a specific case of an asylum-seeking family. Establishing therapeutic environments that do not retraumatize forced migrants and avoid pathologizing survivors or “medicalizing” political trauma and that also engage and support the existing strengths and capabilities of migrants are emphasized in this chapter.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Allan, A., & Allan, M. M. (2000). The South African truth and reconciliation commission as a therapeutic tool. Behavioral Sciences & the Law,18(4), 459–477.
American Immigration Council. (2018, May). Asylum in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/asylum-united-states.
American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
American Psychiatric Association. (2010). The principles of medical ethics. Arlington, VA: Author.
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Washington, DC: Author.
Amnesty International. (2006). Living in the shadows: A primer on the human rights of migrants. https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/80000/pol330062006en.pdf.
Androff, D. K. (2016). Practicing rights: Human rights-based approaches to social work practice. New York, NY: Routledge.
Başoğlu, M., Mineka, S., Paker, M., Aker, T., Livanou, M., & Gök, Ş. (1997). Psychological preparedness for trauma as a protective factor in survivors of torture. Psychological Medicine,27(6), 1421–1433.
Berthold, S. M. (2015). Human rights-based approaches to clinical social work. New York, NY: Springer.
Bhugra, D., & Becker, M. A. (2005). Migration, cultural bereavement and cultural identity. World Psychiatry,4(1), 18–240.
Blackwell, D. (2007). Oppression and freedom in therapeutic space. European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling,9(3), 255–265. https://doi.org/10.1080/13642530701496856.
Bockers, E., Stammel, N., & Knaevelsrud, C. (2011). Reconciliation in Cambodia: Thirty years after the terror of the Khmer Rouge regime. Torture,21(2), 71–83.
Briere, J. (2002). Treating adult survivors of severe childhood abuse and neglect: Further development of an integrative model. In J. E. B. Myers, L. Berliner, J. Briere, C. T. Hendrix, T. Reid, & C. Jenny (Eds.), The APSAC handbook on child maltreatment (2nd ed., pp. 175–202). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Butler, L. D., Critelli, F. M., & Rinfrette, E. S. (2011). Trauma-informed care and mental health. Directions in Psychiatry,31(3), 197–212.
Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., & Deblinger, E. (2006). Treating trauma and traumatic grief in children and adolescents. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Council on Social Work Education. (2015). Educational policy and accreditation standards for baccalaureate and master’s social work programs. Alexandria, VA: Author.
Critelli, F. M. (2008). The impact of September 11th on immigrants in the United States. Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies.,6(2), 141–167.
Drachman, D. (1992). A stage-of-migration framework for service to immigrant populations. Social Work,37(1), 68–72.
Fallot, R. D., & Harris, M. (2009). Creating Cultures of Trauma-Informed Care (CCTIC): A self-assessment and planning protocol. Community Connection. Retrieved from https://traumainformedoregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/CCTIC-A-Self-Assessment-and-Planning-Protocol.pdf.
Gangsei, D., & Deutsch, A. C. (2007). Psychological evaluation of asylum seekers as a therapeutic process. Torture,17(2), 79–87.
Goodman, R. D. (2015). A liberatory approach to trauma counseling: Decolonizing our trauma-informed practices. In R. D. Goodman & P. C. Gorski (Eds.), Decolonizing “multicultural” counseling through social justice (pp. 55–72). New York, NY: Springer.
Harris, M., & Fallot, R. D. (Eds.). (2001). Using trauma theory to design service systems. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Henry, N. (2010). The impossibility of bearing witness: Wartime rape and the promise of justice. Violence Against Women,16(10), 1098–1119.
Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and recovery. New York, NY: BasicBooks.
Herman, J. L. (2015). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence—From domestic abuse to political terror (2015th ed.). New York, NY: Basic Books.
International Federation of Social Workers and International Association of Schools of Social Work [IFSW/IASSW]. (2004). Ethics in social work, statement of principles. Retrieved from https://www.ifsw.org/global-social-work-statement-of-ethical-principles/.
International Organization for Migration. (2015). World migration report 2015: Migrants and cities: New partnerships to manage mobility. Geneva, Switzerland: Author. Retrieved from http://publications.iom.int/system/files/wmr2015_en.pdf.
Krogstad, J. M., Passel, J. S., & Cohn, D. V. (2017, April 27). 5 facts about illegal immigration in the U.S. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/27/5-facts-about-illegal-immigration-in-the-u-s/#.
Kronick, R. (2018). Mental health of refugees and asylum seekers: Assessment and intervention. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry,63(5), 290–296. https://doi.org/10.1177/0706743717746665.
Marks, J. H. (2012). Toward a unified theory of professional ethics and human rights. Michigan Journal of International Law,33(2), 215–263.
Milner, J., & Loescher, G. (2011). Responding to protracted refugee situations: Lessons from a decade of discussion. Refugee Studies Centre. Retrieved from https://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/files/files-1/pb6-responding-protracted-refugee-situations-2011.pdf.
Murray, K. E., Davidson, G. R., & Schweitzer, R. D. (2010). Review of refugee mental health interventions following resettlement: Best practices and recommendations. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry,80(4), 576–585. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-0025.2010.01062.x.
National Partnership for Community Training. (2011). Best, promising, and emerging practices: A compendium for providers working with survivors of torture. A Thematic Issue of Torture Journal, 21(1), 1–66. Retrieved from https://irct.org/publications/torture-journal/115/past-reports/2.
Patel, N., Kellezi, B., & Williams, A. C. (2014). Psychological, social and welfare interventions for psychological health and well-being of torture survivors. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (11). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd009317.pub2.
Prasad, N. (2014). Teaching the use of complaint mechanisms of UN treaty bodies as a tool international social work practice. In K. R. Libal, S. M. Berthold, R. L. Thomas, & L. M. Healy (Eds.), Advancing human rights in social work education. Council on Social Work Education: Alexandria, VA.
Reicherter, D., & Gray, G. (2011). Reconciliation in Cambodia. A letter to the editor. Torture,22(1), 58–59.
Rezzoug, D., Baubet, T., Broder, G., Taïeb, O., & Moro, M. R. (2008). Addressing the mother-infant relationship in displaced communities. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America,17(3), 551–568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2008.02.008.
Robjant, K., & Fazel, M. (2010). The emerging evidence for narrative exposure therapy: A review. Clinical Psychology Review,30, 1030–1039.
Rosenberg, M., Levinson, R., & McNeill, R. (2017, October 17). They fled danger at home to make a high-stakes bet on U.S. immigration courts. Reuters. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-immigration-asylum/.
Rousseau, C. (2018). Addressing mental health needs of refugees. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 63(5), 287–289. Article first published online: December 4, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/0706743717746664.
Ruhs, M. (2012). The rights of migrant workers: Why do so few countries care? American Behavioral Scientist,56(9), 1277–1293.
Schauer, M., Neuner, F., & Elbert, T. (2005). Narrative exposure therapy: A short-term intervention for traumatic stress disorders after war, terror and torture. Gottingen, Germany: Hogrefe & Huber.
Scotch, R. K. (2009). “Nothing about us without us”: Disability rights in America. OAH Magazine of History,23(3), 17–22.
Skjelsbæk, I., Sveaass, N., & Kvaale, R. M. G. (2015). Therapeutic prosecutions? (PRIO Policy Brief, 4). Oslo, Norway: PRIO.
Slobodin, O., & de Jong, J. T. (2015). Mental health interventions for traumatized asylum seekers and refugees: What do we know about their efficacy? International Journal of Social Psychiatry,61(1), 17–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764014535752.
TASSC International. (n.d.). Advocacy and Outreach: Bringing the Survivor Voice to the Foreward. Retrieved from https://www.tassc.org/advocacy-and-outreach.
United Nations. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/.
United Nations. (1965). International convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cerd.aspx.
United Nations. (1966a). International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx.
United Nations. (1966b). International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CESCR.aspx.
United Nations. (1984). Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cat.aspx.
United Nations. (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx.
United Nations. (1990). International convention on the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and their families. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cmw.aspx.
United Nations. (2000a). Protocol against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air, supplementing the United Nations convention against transnational organized crime. Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/protection/migration/496323791b/protocol-against-smuggling-migrants-land-sea-air-supplementing-united-nations.html.
United Nations. (2000b). Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against transnational organized crime. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/ProtocolTraffickingInPersons.aspx.
United Nations. (2001). United Nations convention against transnational organized crime: Resolution/adopted by the general assembly, A/RES/55/25. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/generalassembly/docs/globalcompact/A_RES_55_25.pdf.
United Nations. (2016). International migration report 2015: Highlights (ST/ESA/SER.A/375). Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/publications/migrationreport/docs/MigrationReport2015_Highlights.pdf.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2005). United Nations Convention on Migrants’ Rights, Information Kit. Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001435/143557e.pdf.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2004). Protracted refugee situations. Retrieved from http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/excom/standcom/40c982172/protracted-refugee-situations.html.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2011). The 1951 convention relating to the status of refugees and its 1967 protocol. Geneva, Switzerland: Author. Retrieved from http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/about-us/background/4ec262df9/1951-convention-relating-status-refugees-its-1967-protocol.html.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2016). Global report 2016. Geneva, Switzerland: Author. Retrieved from http://reporting.unhcr.org/node/18722.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (n.d.). U.S. Resettlement Facts. Retrieved from http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/us-refugee-resettlement-facts.html.
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2018). Universal Periodic Review. Retrieved from http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRMain.aspx.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kim, I., Berthold, S.M., Critelli, F.M. (2019). Refugees and Asylum Seekers. In: Butler, L.D., Critelli, F.M., Carello, J. (eds) Trauma and Human Rights. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16395-2_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16395-2_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-16397-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-16395-2
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)