Psychotherapy Groups for Traumatized Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Abstract

Two ways in which the concrete intrudes into the therapeutic space of psychotherapy groups for traumatized refugees and asylum seekers are explored. Concrete intrusions, which are the result of historical traumatic events, are distinguished from those which are the result of the contemporary socio-political context. Groups can help work through the former as an essential part of the therapy and need to find ways of working with the latter. The historical intrusions are aligned to the loss of the ability to symbolize. Connections between the (interpersonal) loss of the ability to trust, which characterizes groups for this population, and the (intrapersonal) loss of the ability to symbolize are explored. With the use of clinical illustrations, the article emphasizes the way in which the group therapy setting provides a space in which to rebuild the ability to trust, which is so personally and politically poignant for this client group. Moreover, finding ways of working with contemporary intrusions may benefit trust and the therapeutic alliance.