Group Therapy as an Ecological Bridge to New Community for Trauma Survivors

Mendelsohn, Michaela; Zachary, Robin S.; Harney, Patricia A.

doi:10.1300/j146v14n01_12

Cited by 39 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The group format can provide nonblaming social support, a sense of safety for participants, and normalization of trauma-related responses and feelings and serve as a venue for sharing grief, loss, and coping skills (Buchele, 2000; Ford et al, 2009; Koss & Harvey, 1991). In addition, group therapy has been theorized to reduce shame and stigma and enhance self-esteem, as well as promote a sense of solidarity and empowerment among group members (Courtois, 1988; Herman, 1997; Koss & Harvey, 1991; Mendelsohn et al, 2007).…”

Section: Group Therapy For Refugees Asylum Seekers and Lgbt Individmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advocacy and empowerment: Group therapy for LGBT asylum seekers.

Reading¹,

Rubin²

2011

Traumatology

113

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In countries worldwide, LGBT individuals are subject to persecution and discrimination, including grave human rights violations based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Asylum provides a mechanism for LGBT individuals fleeing such persecution to legally remain in the United States. However, asylum is not guaranteed, and the asylum-seeking process may be particularly challenging for individuals with complex trauma histories. Although many LGBT asylum seekers are referred to individual psychotherapy by their legal counsel to prepare for the asylum process and to mitigate risks for retraumatization, many decline due to fear, shame, and cultural barriers, among other factors. Thus, we offer a model of group therapy forLGBT asylum seekers, rooted in multicultural and empowerment frameworks, which aims to address the unique concerns and challenges faced by LGBT asylum seekers. These include recovery from the effects of complex trauma, managing the stress of immigration and acculturation, minimizing the risk for retraumatization which may occur during the asylum-seeking process, and overcoming cultural obstacles to individual psychotherapy. We review and integrate empirical and theoretical literature on the mental health of immigrants and asylum seekers, LGBT mental health, and group therapy for trauma, LGBT individuals, and asylum seekers to offer theoretical support for the value of group therapy for LGBT asylum seekers. Research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these group interventions. We offer recommendations for research along with suggestions for addressing the practical challenges encountered in working with LGBT asylum seekers.

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Section: Group Therapy For Refugees Asylum Seekers and Lgbt Individmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advocacy and empowerment: Group therapy for LGBT asylum seekers.

Reading¹,

Rubin²

2011

Traumatology

113

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The strengths of group therapy are wide-ranging. A review by Mendelsohn, Zachary, and Harney (2008) framed group therapy as a safe space to rebuild maladaptive psychosocial patterns and bridge participants to broader community. The review argued that complex trauma causes complex psychological consequences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Informing Human Trafficking Clinical Care Through Two Systematic Reviews on Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence

Menon

Stoklosa

Dommelen

et al. 2018

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

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Background: There is a lack of evidence on the clinical management of patients who have suffered human trafficking. Synthesizing the evidence from similar patient populations may provide valuable insight. This review summarizes findings on therapeutic interventions for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence (IPV). Method: We conducted two systematic reviews using the MEDLINE database. We included only randomized controlled trials of therapies with primary outcomes related to health for survivors of sexual assault and IPV. For the sexual assault review, there were 78 abstracts identified, 16 full-text articles reviewed, and 10 studies included. For the IPV review, there were 261 abstracts identified, 24 full-text articles reviewed, and 17 studies included. Analysis compared study size, intervention type, patient population, primary health outcomes, and treatment effect. Results: Although our search included physical and mental health outcomes, almost all the studies meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria focused on mental health. The interventions for sexual assault included spiritually focused group therapy, interference control training, image rehearsal therapy, sexual revictimization prevention, educational videos, cognitive behavioral therapy, and exposure therapy. The interventions in the IPV review included group social support therapy, exposure therapy, empowerment sessions, physician counseling, stress management programs, forgiveness therapy, motivational interviewing, and interpersonal psychotherapy. Conclusions: Insights from these reviews included the importance of culturally specific group therapy, the central role of survivor empowerment, and the overwhelming focus on mental health. These key features provide guidance for the development of interventions to improve the health of human trafficking survivors.

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“…The benefits of group work for trauma survivors include sharing experience, being with others with similar experiences, decreased isolation, increased self-esteem and self-efficacy, challenging distorted views, enhancing capacity for trust, reducing stigma, and practicing emotional regulation (Gitterman & Knight, 2016;Knight, 2006). Mendelsohn, Zachary, and Harney (2007) write that "group [membership] counteracts the isolating effects of [adversity] and enables survivors to connect with sources of resilience within themselves and others" (p. 227). Conceptually, social group work, mutual aid, and trauma-informed principles exist in congruence.…”

Section: Trauma-focused Group Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trauma, Social Work, and Psychodrama

Giacomucci

2021

Social Work, Sociometry, and Psychodrama

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The history and principles of trauma-informed practice in social work are presented while differentiating trauma-informed and trauma-focused practices. The practice of trauma-focused group therapy and trauma-focused psychodrama is outlined while acknowledging the recent calls for increased trauma content in graduate curriculums. Safety, play, and spontaneity are elevated as core elements in psychodrama’s effectiveness in working with trauma survivors. Psychodrama’s unique capacity for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is presented while outlining two trauma-focused psychodrama models—the Therapeutic Spiral Model and the Relational Trauma Repair Model.

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Group Therapy as an Ecological Bridge to New Community for Trauma Survivors

Cited by 39 publications

References 35 publications

Advocacy and empowerment: Group therapy for LGBT asylum seekers.

Advocacy and empowerment: Group therapy for LGBT asylum seekers.

Informing Human Trafficking Clinical Care Through Two Systematic Reviews on Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence

Trauma, Social Work, and Psychodrama

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