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ABSTRACT
The present article aims to illustrate how healing for children and families seeking international protection is preceded by the promotion and establishment of safe attachment interactions not only with minors and their caregivers but also with any stakeholder involved in their environment. This is a recognition of both the security chains a therapist can trigger, and how relational safety and trust constitute a necessary condition and are actually interventions – to heal both from past and present trauma derived from the unstable and uncertain pre and post-migration experiences families and children go through. Suggestions are provided on how mental health professionals can repair and enhance such eroded safety and trust by intervening inside and outside the therapy room, and on how Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy may constitute a valuable framework to inform our clinical work in this scenario.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Virginia Fernández
Virginia Fernández graduated from Psychology at Universidad Autónoma of Madrid (Spain) in 2010, then moved to the US in 2011 to passionately pursue further professional education. In 2013, she graduated from her Master´s in Family Therapy (COAMFTE accredited) at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Her clinical experience during that time involved working with court-mandated clients with sexual and physical violence and drug convictions. Thereafter, she worked briefly in a health clinic for children with behavioral problems and then enrolled in Gulf Coast Jewish Families and Community Services to deliver in-home crisis intervention for families at-risk throughout Broward County, Fl. In 2014, she moved to New York City and worked as a Clinician for Unaccompanied Children at Cayuga Centers until August, 2016. From September, 2016 until May, 2017 Virginia provided trauma-based therapy at The Crime Victims Treatment Center in Manhattan, where she was trained in the AEDP approach. She has been pursuing further training in such therapeutic orientation since then, the latest one being in London in June, 2018. Virginia moved back to Madrid, Spain at the end of May, 2017 and has been working as a Psychologist for NGO CESAL in its Reception and Integration Program for Refugees.