Psychological Support for Refugee Adolescents

Psychological Support for Refugee Adolescents demonstrates the therapeutic powers of the expressive arts to address the specific needs of adolescent refugees in a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive manner. Bridging the gaps in guidance on support for refugee adolescents, this essential resource integrates neuroscience, trauma theory, and creative interventions and provides tools for readers to use in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Chapters are organised into sections tailored to support the professionals involved in caring for adolescent refugees, including both psychotherapists and non-psychotherapists, with practical advice that is accessible across disciplines. Through richly detailed case studies featuring diverse refugee experiences, this book demonstrates how creative modalities, including visual arts, music, movement, and embodied practices, can be expertly tailored to honour cultural contexts while also addressing trauma symptoms, sleep disturbances, isolation, and other challenges. An essential read for any professional involved in support for adolescent refugees, this book will also be of interest to arts and expressive therapists and mental health practitioners more broadly. The online support material for this book includes downloadable and photocopiable activities tailored for application to both psychotherapeutic and more general wellbeing support, aiding readers in their work with refugee adolescents.

Rachel Hoare is an assistant professor in the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Trinity College Dublin, where she founded the Research Centre for Forced Migration Studies. She is also a faculty member at the Children's Therapy Centre in Mullingar, Ireland, and works with the Irish Child and Family Agency as a part-time expressive arts child and adolescent psychotherapist, supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking adolescents.

Foreword by Cathy A. Malchiodi. Introduction 1. The Impact of the Adolescent Migration Trajectory 2. Stress and the Developing Refugee Adolescent Brain 3. Reframing Adolescent Refugee Mental Health as Well-Being: Optimising Help-seeking Opportunities and Overcoming Stigma 4. A Trauma-informed, Therapeutic Approach for all Professionals working with Refugee Adolescents 5. Expressive Arts in Psychotherapy with Traumatised Refugee Adolescents 6. Integrating the Expressive Arts into Non-clinical Psychosocial Support for Adolescent Refugees 7. Introduction to the Case Studies 8. Daahir's Story: Developing a Mental Health Toolbox and Healing Trauma through the Expressive Arts 9. Nabeel's Story: Learning to Feel Again 10. Anastasiya's Story: Being Supported to Cope with Sleep Disturbances and Nightmares 11. Creative Connections: Omar's journey from Isolation to Community through Football-themed Group Youth Work and Individual Psychotherapy 12. Ovie's Story: Voices Beyond Silence: Collective Healing for Displaced Youth 13. Working with Interpreters to Support Refugee Adolescents 14. Self-care through the Expressive Arts 15. Activity Locator: Finding Expressive Arts Tools by Need and Chapter Conclusions