Voices of Dialogue and Directivity in Family Therapy With Refugees: Evolving Ideas About Dialogical Refugee Care

Abstract

In this article, we reflect on our evolving ideas regarding a dialogical approach to refugee care. Broadening the predominant phased trauma care model and its engaging of directive expertise in symptom reduction, meaning making, and rebuilding connectedness, these developing dialogical notions involve the negotiation of silencing and disclosure, meaning and absurdity, hope and hopelessness in a therapeutic dialogue that accepts its encounter of cultural and social difference. In locating therapeutic practice within these divergent approaches, we argue an orientation on collaborative dialogue may operate together with notions from the phased trauma care model as heuristic background in engaging a polyphonic understanding of coping with individual and family sequelae of forced displacement. This locating of therapeutic practice, as informed by each perspective, invites us to remain present to fragments of therapeutic positioning that resonate power imbalance or appropriation in a therapeutic encounter imbued with a social context that silences refugees' suffering. In a clinical case analysis, we further explore these relational complexities of negotiating directive expertise and collaborative dialogue in the therapeutic encounter with refugee clients.

A Critical Methodological Review of Discourse and Conversation Analysis Studies of Family Therapy

“…Consequently, the whole process led to the exclusion of studies reporting recent attempts for the development of innovative methodologies for the study of psychotherapy discourse (Olson, Laitila, Rober, & Seikkula, ; Seikkula, Laitila, & Rober, ) or alternative types of linguistic analysis (Muntigl, ). Furthermore, I excluded studies that deployed the notion of discourse or dialog as a heuristic one and argued for a discursive approach to issues pertaining to clinical practice in the context of thought‐provoking theoretical discussions (e.g., De Haene, Rober, Adriaenssens, & Verschueren, ; Foreman & Dallos, ; Sinclair & Taylor, ; Weingarten, ). Finally, studies in which the author(s) conducted CA or DA but did not explicitly claim that they did so were also excluded (Buttny, ; Guilfoyle, ).…”

“…52, December, 2013 TSELIOU / 657 2004). Furthermore, I excluded studies that deployed the notion of discourse or dialog as a heuristic one and argued for a discursive approach to issues pertaining to clinical practice in the context of thought-provoking theoretical discussions (e.g., De Haene, Rober, Adriaenssens, & Verschueren, 2012;Foreman & Dallos, 1992;Sinclair & Taylor, 2004;Weingarten, 1991). Finally, studies in which the author(s) conducted CA or DA but did not explicitly claim that they did so were also excluded (Buttny, 1996;Guilfoyle, 2003).…”

Indero: Intergenerational Trauma and Resilience between Burundian Former Child Soldiers and Their Children

“…A family centered approach would view present difficulties through a lens of understanding how problems and solutions are passed through generations. The use of hope as a practice (Kotze, Hulme, Geldenhuys, & Weingarten, 2013), couples therapy that addresses the reenactment of past traumatic relational problems (Nasim & Nadan, 2013), and collaborative dialogue that involves the use of silencing and disclosure (Song & de Jong, 2014;De Haene, Rober, Adriaenssens, & Verschueren, 2012) could assist the family in healing. Moreover, family grief work that addresses ambiguous loss could focus on finding meaning instead of closure (Boss & Carnes, 2012).…”

The transmission of trauma in refugee families: associations between intra-family trauma communication style, children’s attachment security and psychosocial adjustment

“…Although correlations in the expected direction were found, none of these were significant at the .05 level, and a small and non-significant negative association was found between Parental Anxiety and children's Total difficulties scores r=-. 210, p=.284. case, the finding has important implications, as it suggests a need for family interventions, and not just individual therapy for traumatized refugee parents with non-traumatized children (De Haene et al, 2012).…”

“…Many non-Western cultures have different ideals and traditions with regard to intra-family communication (De Haene, Grietens, & Verschueren, 2010c;De Haene, Rober, Adriaenssens, & Verschueren, 2012), and the emphasis placed on verbal expressiveness varies across cultures (Rousseau & Drapeau, 1998).The term Modulated Disclosure has been coined to characterize a style of communication that emphasizes the timing and manner in which disclosure takes place rather than the exact content of what is disclosed. Modulated Disclosure is characterized by parental sensitivity to the child's emotional needs, resulting in beneficial outcomes.…”