Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) In Clinical Psychology Program
Course Descriptions
CLI TR530—
WORKING WITH REFUGEES
(2 credits)
This course will address: (1) The experiences of refugees before arrival in the U.S. or other host country; (2) The bio-psychosocial and spiritual sequelae of (a) loss of family, friends, home, language, and culture; loss of physical ability after war-related injury, (b) ambiguous loss of missing, tortured, or incapacitated relatives, friends, acquaintances, (c) torture or violation of self and/or of loved ones, (d) being targeted as a member of a marginalized ethnic, racial, religious, or political group, (e) dehumanization of self and “the other”, (f) multiple forced migrations (including in original country), (g) how refugees are received in (one or more) new host country, e.g., legal immigration/asylum issues, racism, xenophobia, linguistic and cultural marginalization, (h) retraumatization while applying for asylum, citizenship, etc., (i) challenges of negotiating cultural transition and changes in class position - relationships between refugees and subsequent generations; (3) Resilience and resistance to marginalization as relational processes; (4) Clinical approaches to working with refugees (individual psychotherapy, family therapy, group therapy, expressive therapies, community-based approaches, combinations of the above); (5) Working with victims, bystanders, and perpetrators and understanding each position; (6) Collaborating with interpreters, lawyers, medical clinicians, and refugee advocates; and (7) Attention to risks of vicarious traumatization and need for support and self-care; (8) The role of psychology in policy, advocacy, diplomacy, and collective reconciliation and peace building.
Updated 2/18/11
