Trauma-Informed Therapy Trauma-informed therapies (e.g., eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and narrative expressive therapy (NET) are often cited as evidence-based interventions for migrant clients experiencing persecution- and war-related trauma (Sangalang et al., 2019; Goodman et al., 2017; Thompson et al., 2018; Bemak & Chung, 2014). A comprehensive discussion is beyond the scope of this paper. We advise additional research to investigate the efficacy of cultural adaptations of these Western models of traumainformed therapies to ensure cultural sensitivity when addressing migrants’ human rights violations, reprocessing of traumas, family reunifications, and appropriate use of professional interpreters. Clinicians’ awareness of migrants’ unique stressors, along with the incorporation of compassionate practice and traumainformed therapies into their repertoires, are likely to facilitate migrants’ resettlement. ❖ About the Authors: Juneau Mahan Gary is a professor and Kassaw Merie is a lecturer at Kean University
(Union, NJ). Robin Hernandez-Mekonnen is an associate professor at Stockton University (Galloway, NJ). References Bemak, F., & Chung, R. (2014). Immigrants and refugees. In F.T.L. Leong (Ed.). APA handbook of multicultural psychology, Vol. 1 (pp. 503-517). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Goodman, R., Vesely, C., & Letiecq, B. (2017). Counseling refugees. In J. Webber & J. Mascari (Eds.), Disaster mental health counseling (pp.179-192). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association Foundation. Hays, D., & Erford, B. (2018). Developing a multicultural counseling competency: A systems approach. New York, NY: Pearson. Jones-Smith, E. (2019). Culturally diverse counseling: Theory and practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Migration Policy Institute. (2020). New Jersey: Demographics and social. Retrieved from https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/state-profiles/state/ demographics/NJ
NJ Department of Education (2012). Resources for refugees. Retrieved from https://www.state.nj.us/education/bilingual/resources/refugees.pdf Salem-Pickartz, J. (2007). Peer counsellors training with refugees from Iraq: A Jordanian case study. Intervention, 5(3), 232-243. doi: https://doi-org./10.1097/ WTF.0b013e3282f1fc45 Sangalang, C., Becerra, D., Mitchell, F., Lechuga-Pena, S., Lopez, K, & Kim, I. (2019). Trauma, post-migration stress, and mental health: A comparative analysis of refugees and immigrants in the United States. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 21(5), 909-919. doi: https:/doi.org/10.1007/s10903018-0826-2 Thompson, C., Vidgen, A., & Roberts, N. (2018). Psychological interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder in refugees and asylum seekers: A systemic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 63, 6679. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j. cpr.2018.06.006 UNHCR: USA. (2020). Resettlement in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/resettlementin-the-united-states.html
Treating Underserved Latino Immigrant Communities
Marta Aizenman, PhD
N
ew Jersey has a substantial and still growing population of Latino immigrants, including many who have left behind challenging socioeconomic circumstances in their countries of origin in search of a better life in our state. Today they comprise more than eight percent of New Jersey’s population (Migration Policy Institute tabulations of the 2017 US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and Decennial Census). Yet, when it comes to obtaining psychological care, this community remains substantially underserved. Many Latino immigrants may be unaware that psychological services 22
are an option. Others are unsure whether they can trust counselors (Comas-Díaz, L., 2006; Ingram, E. M., 2007; Olcoń, K & Gulbas, L. E., 2018; Ortega, A. N. & Alegría, M., 2002). It is possible that such trust issues may be compounded by the immigrants’ legal status. While many are authorized immigrants, these include refugees and asylees who were granted legal status due to persecution they faced in their countries of origin. There is also a large population of Latino immigrants who do not have legal status, having crossed into the United States without authorization or overstayed their visa. In this paper, I highlight some of the social, cultural, and historical circumstances that can substantially impact patients from this often underserved population, as well as several means by which therapists can take these factors into account to make the psychotherapeutic process more effective.
The issues that Latino immigrant clients bring to treatment are embedded in the societies in which they live. Many have experienced poverty and discrimination based on their national origin, ethnicity, race, linguistic limitations, or socioeconomic status. Many have also left behind their extended family, parents, and even their children. It is important for those providing psychological treatment to Latino immigrant communities to consider whether such factors are impacting their clients’ mental health. Indeed, if these variables are not addressed, the therapeutic process would be less effective. Another important factor for therapists to consider are the circumstances of a Latino immigrant clients’ journey to the United States and the potential psychological trauma the client may still carry from this immigration experience. It is all the more important for the therapist to be sensitive to this possibility, because often New Jersey Psychologist