Insights Gained from Working with LGBTQI Refugees in Individual Therapy.
STARTTS, Sydney, Australia
This paper will highlight and explore some of the insights gained from individual therapy work with LGBTQI refugees who have been persecuted on the basis of their sexual identity. Torture and trauma experienced on the basis of sexual orientation has a profound impact on one’s sense of self, mental health and ability to connect with others. These factors then cause challenges for resettlement in a new community, and can complicate the road to recovery from trauma. Considerations for case formulation and implications for treatment and therapeutic processes will be discussed. The presentation will also explore issues related to grief, loss, guilt and shame. Case examples of individual therapy will be presented to highlight these issues.
