Working with Forced Migrants: Therapeutic Issues and Considerations for Mental Health Counselors

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeyinka Akinsulure-Smith ◽  
Maile O'Hara
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Counselors ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Unique Role ◽  
The Social ◽  
Forced Migrants ◽  
Therapeutic Services

The number of forced migrants arriving in the United States continues to increase. To provide effective therapeutic services and interventions for them, it is important for clinicians to understand the unique role that mental health professionals can play in improving the mental health of this diverse population. This article draws attention to the mental health needs of forced migrants and highlights considerations, such as medical, social, legal, cultural, and linguistic factors, that providing services to this population may entail. It also suggests ways in which counselors can actively, competently, and ethically address the social justice issues that impact forced migrants.

Delivering Psychological Services to Refugees Resettled in the United States

2019 ◽  
pp. 165-183
Author(s):  
Johanna E. Nilsson ◽  
Sally Stratmann ◽  
Aurora Molitoris ◽  
Marcella A. Beaumont ◽  
Jessica Horine
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Services ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
The Status

Approximately 25 million refugees have fled their homelands internationally, and about 3 million have been resettled in the United States. The mental health needs of a population that has fled oppression, violence, and instability are diverse. This chapter seeks to provide a holistic overview of these needs. The introduction covers what defines the status of a refugee, current resettlement policies, and pre- and post-migration experiences and concerns among refugees, including barriers to basic services. Effective mental health treatment options and areas of competence for mental health professionals working with these individuals are discussed, along with future considerations for best meeting the mental health needs of refugees.

scholarly journals Voices: Exploring the Experiences of Non-Mental Health Professionals Working with Mexican Immigrants Affected by Deportation

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Lopez ◽  
Ioana Boie
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mexican Immigrants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Insight Into

With large numbers of immigrants living in the United States and a recent increase in deportations, it is imperative that mental health professionals are aware of the implications involved in working with immigrants affected by deportation. The perspectives of non-mental health professionals working with immigrants are valuable in providing insight into the complexity of issues encountered when working with this population. The participants discussed perceptions, reactions, perceived mental health needs, and recommendations for working with Mexican immigrants.

scholarly journals Mental Health Counselors’ Perceptions of Rural Women Clients

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-101
Author(s):  
Lisbeth A. Leagjeld ◽  
Phillip L. Waalkes ◽  
Maribeth F. Jorgensen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Counselors ◽  
Women Clients ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Structured Interviews

Researchers have frequently described rural women as invisible, yet at 28 million, they represent over half of the rural population in the United States. We conducted a transcendental phenomenological study using semi-structured interviews and artifacts to explore 12 Midwestern rural-based mental health counselors’ experiences counseling rural women through a feminist lens. Overall, we found eight themes organized under two main categories: (a) perceptions of work with rural women (e.g., counselors’ sense of purpose, a rural heritage, a lack of training for work with rural women, and the need for additional research); and (b) perceptions of rural women and mental health (e.g., challenges, resiliency, protective factors, and barriers to mental health services for rural women). We offer specific implications for counselors to address the unique mental health needs of rural women, including hearing their stories through their personal lenses and offering them opportunities for empowerment at their own pace.

Occupational Therapy Practitioners’ Perspectives of Mental Health Practices With Clients in Stroke Rehabilitation

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily K. Simpson ◽  
Narissa M. Ramirez ◽  
Brittany Branstetter ◽  
Aileen Reed ◽  
Evan Lines
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Mental Health Practices

Following a stroke, depression and anxiety may negatively affect recovery and decrease quality of life. Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners are distinctly qualified to address both the physical and psychosocial sequelae of a stroke, including clients’ mental and emotional health. This study explored the ways in which OT practitioners address the mental health needs of clients post stroke. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used to collect both survey and focus group data. In all, 754 OT practitioners across the United States completed an online survey, and 10 practitioners participated in focus groups. Practitioners considered their clients’ mental health needs to be a priority (68.17%); however, only 56.64% were satisfied with the care they provided related to mental and emotional health. They identified barriers that included limited time, increased productivity standards, expectations related to physical recovery, and poor educational preparation. Practitioners are motivated to improve their provision of mental health services to clients post stroke. To address the conflict between practice realities and professional values, education programs should better integrate curricular components that focus on physical and mental health.

scholarly journals M223. EXPLORING YOUR PERSONAL IDENTITY: USING USER-CENTRED-DESIGN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW INTERVENTION FOR SERVICE USERS WITH COMPLEX MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S220-S221
Author(s):  
Lisette Van der Meer ◽  
Tessa Jonker ◽  
Charlotte Wunderink ◽  
Jaap van Weeghel ◽  
Marieke (Gerdina) Pijnenborg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Psychosocial Intervention ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Personal Recovery ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
User Centred Design ◽  
Starting Point

Abstract Background Introduction: As a human being we give meaning to our stories, in relation to the social and physical context. For people with severe and complex mental health needs, who have been dependent on (intensive) residential psychiatric support for a long time, it is possible that talents and qualities disappear because this part of their identity has been buried under a long psychiatric history. This can result in people’s identity becoming limited to ‘patient’, and the experience of life as meaningless. Objectives For these service-users, few interventions aimed at personal recovery are available that match their cognitive and communicative skills. In this project, we developed a new psychosocial intervention to stimulate self-reflection and personal recovery. Methods The development of the intervention took place through a “user-centred-design process” (UCD). UCD is an iterative design process in which the needs and wishes of the user are the starting point, and they remain central in the product design circle. Throughout the whole design process, service users, significant others, mental health professionals, peer support workers, artists, and researchers collaborate in order to design a first testable prototype. For each step of design process, we organized focus group meetings and brainstorm sessions with all stakeholders as well as individual interviews with service users. Based on the input in these meetings and interviews, the design was adapted. This was done for each consecutive step, which made the whole design process iterative by nature. Results A new psychosocial intervention entitled “This Is Me” was developed as a “journey of discovery” through the lives of service users at both verbal and non-verbal levels. From the UCD process four basic principles underlying the intervention were disentangled that have been incorporated in the intervention: 1) “gaining new experiences”, 2) “attention for (self)stigma”, 3) “equal treatment as a person”, 4) “uniqueness of the individual”. This resulted in an intervention in which service-users, together with a teammate, engage in new experiences. Moreover, they are prompted to reflect on these experiences upon their return. With this process, we aim to support people in (re)discovering roles, talents and characteristics to broaden the identity from ‘patienthood’ to ‘personhood’. Discussion Conclusions: UCD was a useful method for the development of a new psychosocial intervention targeting identity for people with complex mental health needs. The process resulted into new knowledge about factors that are important in the (re)development of identity. In addition, we will present the first results of a pilot study in which we assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention.

scholarly journals Asiasiga: a Samoan intervention to address the immediate mental health needs of Samoan communities after a tsunami

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-33
Author(s):  
Taimalieutu Kiwi Tamasese ◽  
Tafaoimalo Loudeen Parsons ◽  
Charles Waldegrave ◽  
Richard Sawrey ◽  
Allister Bush
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Cultural Practice ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Clinicians ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Pastoral Workers ◽  
Degree Of Acceptance ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Health Programmes

Objective: To describe an Indigenous Samoan psychosocial intervention developed to address the mental health needs of affected communities in Samoa following a tsunami. Method: A partnership was established between Samoan therapists, Samoan Catholic pastoral workers and non-Samoan mental health clinicians, informed by Samoan concepts of self and wellbeing. The format developed for visits to significantly affected households was based on a Samoan cultural practice known as asiasiga and was carried out by pastoral workers, with daily group supervision and access to mental health professionals. Results: Household visits were offered to affected families in villages throughout southern and eastern Upolu and the island of Manono. There was a high degree of acceptance of the programme by Pulenu’u (village governance leaders) and family leaders and members. Conclusions: Mental health responses to the needs of Indigenous Pacific communities following a disaster need to be embedded in the values of those communities. The Samoan practice of asiasiga contributed to the high degree of acceptability of this programme. Partnerships with churches, schools and other local organisations are likely to enhance acceptability and participation. More research is required on Indigenous Pacific post-disaster mental health programmes.

scholarly journals Real-World Technology Use Among People With Mental Illnesses: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Carpenter-Song ◽  
Valerie A Noel ◽  
Stephanie C Acquilano ◽  
Robert E Drake
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Real World ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Recovery ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Settings

BACKGROUND There is growing interest in using technology-based tools to support mental health recovery. Yet, despite evidence suggesting widespread access to technology among people with mental illnesses, interest in using technology to support mental health, and effectiveness of technology-based tools developed by researchers, such tools have not been widely adopted within mental health settings. Little is currently known about how mental health consumers are using technology to address mental health needs in real-world settings outside of controlled research studies. OBJECTIVE This qualitative study examined current practices and orientations toward technology among consumers in 3 mental health settings in the United States. METHODS Ethnographic observations and semistructured interviews were conducted. Observations focused on if and how technology was salient within the setting and documented relevant behaviors, interactions, and dialogue in fieldnotes. Ethnographic data informed the development of a semistructured interview that inquired into technology use and interest among consumers (n=15) in a community mental health setting. Fieldnotes and interview transcripts were reviewed and coded by multiple researchers. Key concepts and patterns identified were refined by the research team to develop the main findings. RESULTS Ownership of technology, although common, was not ubiquitous and was varied across the sites. Participants had varying levels of awareness regarding the key capabilities of modern technologies. Participants used technology for many purposes, but there was limited evidence of technology use to support mental health. Technology-based tools specific to mental health were not routinely used, although some participants found widely available mobile apps to be helpful in recovery. CONCLUSIONS Qualitative findings suggest that many, but not all, clients will be interested in using technology to support mental health needs. The variability in type and quality of technology owned by participants suggests the need to design for a range of functionality in the development of mental health tools. Findings also suggest thinking broadly about using existing platforms and widely available tools to support consumers in mental health recovery.

Childhood and Adolescence

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suad Kapetanovic ◽  
Lori Wiener ◽  
Lisa Tuchman ◽  
Maryland Pao
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
The Family ◽  
Health Objectives ◽  
Hiv Aids

Mental health professionals need to understand how the psychosocial and mental health needs of HIV-infected youth evolve over time and to be able to identify salient clinical challenges that present with each developmental stage. It is also important to understand that HIV/AIDS affects children’s lives indirectly, by the presence of HIV/AIDS in a family member, even if the child is not HIV infected. This chapter uses a developmental perspective to introduce key mental health objectives in the lives of developing HIV-infected children and adolescents and provides an overview of epidemiological, psychosocial, and clinical parameters to be considered in their clinical care and management. The chapter also addresses issues facing perinatally and behaviorally HIV-infected children and adolescents. Separate sections of the chapter discuss biopsychosocial factors salient to children and adolescents who are affected by HIV infection in the family.

More Than a Vacation: Exploring the Impact of Reentry for International Sojourners

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Kostohryz ◽  
Pamela Wells ◽  
Cristen Wathen ◽  
David Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Counseling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mental Health Counselors ◽  
Grief And Loss ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Global Society ◽  
Health Counseling ◽  
The Impact

As our population becomes increasingly internationalized in today's global society, a need emerges for awareness, research, and support for the mental health needs of clients who have returned from sojourns abroad. This article describes how mental health counselors can become more aware of the reentry experience. It also explores such factors as expectations, transition, advocacy, and grief and loss. It diminishes the perception of sojourning as simply a vacation and discusses adjustments clients often have to make upon returning home. The article offers recommendations for working with clients who are finding reentry difficult, explores implications for the mental health counseling profession, and offers ideas for future research.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document