Navigating Societal Marginalisation in Therapy: an exploration of the journey of Unaccompanied Refugee Young People & their Therapist.

Navigating societal marginalisation in the context of therapy. What place do personal, political and spiritual values have in the consulting room with refugee young people and does this extend beyond the therapy room? 

The author has extensive therapeutic experience of working collaboratively with unaccompanied refugee young people around their experiences of torture, organised violence and imprisonment, and, in some cases, of being a child soldier. Although this work has taken place at a number of settings, Freedom from Torture and the Helen Bamber Foundation are of significance, as well as independent practice in the context of the preparation of reports for Immigration Tribunals. 

The following will be addressed: 

• Is it possible to construct a narrative across cultures, spiritual belief systems and life experiences in the context of a host culture which excludes and de-humanises? 

• The significance of a trusting relationship as a means of facilitating therapeutic change 

• Cultural influences that may facilitate or hinder coping-efforts in a given context – developing a secure and positive identity based on culture of origin as well as learning the ‘language’ and meaning of the new culture in order to facilitate a sense of integration. 

• The use we make of particular models for understanding young people’s experiences will determine the kind of therapy that we provide. What are the models of helping and therapy which most facilitate therapeutic change and where do concepts such as PTSD, spirituality and cultural bereavement fit the context of collaborative and self-empowering practices? 

Despite the gravity of the circumstances, humour, culturally appropriate metaphors, and a willingness to engage in the re-authoring of stories and therefore of lives, has taken place in a context of great sensitivity to culture, spiritual beliefs, life experiences and losses. We welcome an interactive discussion around clinical experience of working with these issues