A phenomenological study of perseverance and resilience through the migration journey

Abstract

Researchers in this study used a phenomenological approach (Moustakas, 1994) to conduct and analyze interviews of 15 Latinx and Asian immigrants and refugees who shared their pre-migration, migration, and post-migration experiences. The participants were also asked to describe their perceived counseling needs at each stage of their journey. Four themes were identified: dire decisions, resilience and perseverance, trauma and loss, and human rights violations. Implications include the need for counselors to understand the journey experiences of immigrants and refugees, recognize their resilience and perseverance, and engage in advocacybased counseling approaches that are essential when supporting clients who identify as immigrants or refugees during their resettlement and post-immigration period.

Taking Action towards an Inclusive Career Counselling for Asylum Seekers and Refugees—A Literature Review Based on the PRISMA Model

“…Regarding the migratory experience, the reviewed research draws attention to the impact of current migration and asylum policies. The factors considered include the perilous nature of migratory routes; the oppression, violation of basic human rights, violence, and abuse experienced [20,31,[40][41][42]; and the effect of borders as 'natural selection', whereby crossing them depends on the economic, physical, and psychological resilience of As&R [19,41]. Indeed, worldwide restrictive asylum policies have focused on controlling migration routes and implementing refoulement measures, as well as on shifting geopolitical borders through regulatory changes that generate illegality and result in refugees being pushed back to countries (thanks to agreements with these 'safe third countries') where human rights violations take place [38,39].…”

“…In light of this, migration narratives in career counselling interventions need to be contextualized within the influences of 'social-environmental' systems to raise As&R awareness on how their lived experiences are shaped by political, historical, and cultural contexts [11,31]. Indeed, geopolitical factors and migration policies impact As&R experiences at both the individual and social levels by making violence and dehumanizing experiences an anticipated condition and accepted price to pay [40]. Over time, this leads to negative cognitive, psychosocial, and emotional effects such as isolation, lack of control, confidence, and identification with disempowered self-perspectives that affect their self-esteem, mental, and physical health [20,28,29,31,40].…”

“…Indeed, geopolitical factors and migration policies impact As&R experiences at both the individual and social levels by making violence and dehumanizing experiences an anticipated condition and accepted price to pay [40]. Over time, this leads to negative cognitive, psychosocial, and emotional effects such as isolation, lack of control, confidence, and identification with disempowered self-perspectives that affect their self-esteem, mental, and physical health [20,28,29,31,40].…”