Narrative therapy and continuing bonds enquiry with refugees and asylum seekers: Bridging the past and the future

Abstract

Refugees and asylum seekers experience throughout their lives numerous losses of various nature. Treating mental health among these communities is challenging owing to language and cultural barriers. In addition, there are specific stressors associated with migration and settlement to be considered. This paper explores the use of the model 'continuing bonds' (CB) in two case studies as a form of enquiry. The authors draw upon social constructionist and narrative ideas to provide an enquiry approach that enables clinicians to understand and respond to the numerous losses of one's culture and relationships as a result of migratory grief. This is an emerging enquiry model based on the authors' work with unaccompanied minors which professionals can make use of in responding promptly and treating mental health difficulties within this population, drawing upon both past and present relationships.

Psychotherapeutic and Psychosocial Interventions with Unaccompanied Minors: A Scoping Review

“…Of the 46 papers that concern psychotherapy, 23 report CBT interventions [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 ], 6 transcultural interventions [ 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ], 5 psychodynamic interventions [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 ], 2 NET interventions [ 71 , 72 ], 2 narrative interventions [ 73 , 74 ], 2 art interventions [ 75 , 76 ], 1 systemic intervention [ 77 ] and 5 examine various other approaches [ 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 ]. Furthermore, 12 studies followed a multimodal approach [ 45 , 46 , 51 ,…”

“…Regarding their aim, over two-thirds of the studies focused exclusively or partly on the alleviation of trauma-related symptoms [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 51 , 52 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 71 , 72 , 75 , 76 , 78 , 81 ]. Other aims were the improvement of mental health [ 48 , 49 , 53 , 58 , 59 , 63 , 65 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 82 ], promotion of wellbeing (including empowerment and resilience) [ 53 , 69 , 70 , …”

“…Most interventions took place in collaboration with community and welfare services [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 47 , 58 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 77 , 79 , 80 , 81 ], as well as outpatient clinics and hospitals [ 44 , 50 , 51 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 71 , 72 , 73 ]. Only two took place in a school setting [ 37 , 52 ] and eight in accommodation facilities, refugee camps and arrival centres [ 46 , 48 , 49 , 67 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 78 , 82 ].…”

“…Regarding the sample, the majority of the studies included mainly or exclusively male participants [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 51 , 53 , 54 , 56 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 ], adolescents or young adults [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , <...…”

“…Of the two narrative-based studies, one consisted of individual sessions with the “Continuing Bonds” method [ 73 ], and one was a “Tree of Life” group intervention [ 74 ]. Re-narrating the minors’ stories was their common component.…”