Collaborative Therapy with Women and Children Refugees in Houston: Moving Toward Rehabilitation in the United States After Enduring the Atrocities of War

Abstract

Collaborative therapy emphasizes the idea of 'walking with the client'; recognizing the client's need, pace, expertise in situational context and creating safe dialogical space. The not-knowing stance of the therapists' is open for challenge and change in the therapeutic process (Anderson and Levin 1998). In keeping with the philosophical understandings of Collaborative Therapy, the methodology we used in the support group work was—be flexible, 'be present with the group', and develop an equal and collaborative partnership from the beginning till die termination of die group. We valued die therapeutic alliance and feedback throughout die course of therapy. Common factor researchers, Duncan et al. (2004) emphasized the need to include clients' voices in treatment to increase outcome effectiveness. UNHCR (2013) emphasized the need for resilience and resource focused approach in humanitarian settings to empower persons of concerns (POC) and facilitate their adjustment post displacement based on consistent research findings. HGI therapists and clients formed a collaborative dialogical engagement, and listened to the support groups' voice in directing die course of the brief group therapy and maximizing the outcome effectiveness for the refugee women and children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)