Refugee women survivors of transnational civil unrest Kristen M. Curry, MA, PCCI

What is transnational civil unrest?

Conflict that extends across national boundaries…

•  Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Palestine (ISIS, 2006-current)

•  Laos, Thailand, Vietnam (Vietnam War, 1954-1975)

•  Russia, Ukraine (Civil unrest, 1991-current)

•  Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras (civil war, gang war, drug cartels, 1960-current)

•  Pakistan, India (Kashmir Insurgency, 1987-current)

•  Bosnia, Yugoslavia, Herzegovina (Bosnian War, 1992-1995)

•  Niger, Cameroon, Chat, Nigeria (Boko Haram, 2009-current)

•  Myanmar/Burma, Thailand (Civil War, 1988-current)

(AP Online (2014); Holmes, O. (2013); Smith, J. (2010); The Guardian (2010); Wikipedia 9/30/14)

Demographics

v  FY 2014 >64,000 survivors seeking refuge from civil unrest arrive in the United States

§  >5,500 in California alone

v  Approximately 72% of arriving civil unrest survivors are from the countries of:

§  Iraq (26%)

§  Burma (20%)

§  Somalia (13%)

§  Bhutan (13%)

v  What does this mean for a therapist?

(Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Office of Admissions - Refugee Processing Center Refugee Arrivals by Nationality, September 5, 2014)

“Crisis counselors must be sensitive to cultural differences in the ways that clients respond

to crises.”

(Remley, Jr., T. P. & Herlihy, B., 2010)

Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

ü  Consider the emotional impact of resettlement in the United States

ü  Respect the client’s experience and listen to their story

ü  Work within the client’s belief system

ü  DSM???

What works?

•  Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)

•  Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)

•  Art therapy

•  Group therapy

•  Conjoint therapy

•  Engaging in the community

•  Finding a new sense of purpose

Client Centered Therapy

(Neuner, et. al., (2010); Craig, G., (1995))

Social Justice Advocacy

v  Access to culturally competent services v  Language services

v  Community resources

v  Funding

v  Transnational intervention v  Assessment and counseling support

v  Sensitivity training for aid workers and community supports

Advocacy starts with just one word

Awareness

What will you do?

References

�  AP Online, September 30, 2014. www.ap.org

�  Craig, G. (1995). Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). www.EMOFree.com

�  Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Office of Admissions - Refugee Processing Center (2014). Refugee Arrivals by Nationality. www.state.gov; www.wrapsnet.org

�  Holmes, O. (2013). Critical Sexual Violence Causes Mass Exodus In Syria. Women News Network. www.womennewsnetwork.net

�  Neuner, F., Kurreck, S., Ruf, M., Odenwald, M., Elber, T., Schauer, M. (2010). Can Asylum-Seekers with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Be Successfully Treated? A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 81-91. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. Doi: 10.1080/16506070903121042

�  Remley, Jr., T. P. & Herlihy, B. (2010). Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Pearson Education.

�  Smith, J. (2010). Burmese Refugees In Bangladesh Suffer a Shortage of Food, Care. The Boston Globe. www.boston.com

�  The Guardian (2010). www.theguardian.com

�  Wikipedia, September 30, 2014. www.wikipedia.org

Email: Kristen M. Curry, MA, PCCI, at UnseenXS@yahoo.com, subject line: CALPCC 2014