The UN estimates that there are 60 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide, a staggering number that has not been seen since during World War II. Recent media attention has called attention to crisis, but there remains a great lack of awareness about the actual experiences, needs, and strengths of refugees and asylum-seekers. This presentation will increase counselors’ knowledge about the unique concerns and strengths of refugees, useful models for understanding trauma and related mental health concerns among refugees, and appropriate interventions that are grounded in ecosystemic and multicultural-social justice counseling frameworks. Bring your questions to learn about ongoing stresses and trauma experienced by refugees, and better understand the unique needs of transnational individuals.
Rachael D. Goodman, Ph.D., LPC, has served as an Assistant Professor in the Counseling and Development Program at George Mason University since 2010. Dr. Goodman’s work is grounded in social justice and multiculturalism, with a focus on trauma counseling. She utilizes community engaged research methods, including community based participatory research (CBPR), to critically co-investigate the needs of marginalized communities, develop collaborative interventions and advocacy actions, and build on existing strengths and sources of resilience. Working in partnership with refugee and undocumented immigrant communities, Dr. Goodman and her partners have identified the cumulative and intersecting sources of stress and trauma, structural and ecosystemic barriers and supports, and community-based interventions to bolster resilience and resistance.