Psychological models of therapy with refugee and asylum-seeking children
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Dobler, V., Derluyn, I., Draper, A., Marcellino, E., & Pfeiffer, E. (2024). Trauma-focused interventions for children and adolescents in migration contexts. In Landolt, M.A., Cloitre, M., & Schnyder, U. (eds) Evidence-Based Treatments for Trauma-Related Disorders in Children and Adolescents. Springer, Cham.
Ehntholt, K., Smith, P., & Yule, W. (2005). School-based cognitive behavioural therapy group intervention for refugee children who have experienced war-related trauma. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 10,2, 235-250.
Ehntholt, K.A. & Yule, W. (2006). Practitioner Review: Assessment and treatment of refugee children and adolescents who have experienced war-related trauma. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47,12, 1197-1210.
Fazel, M., Stratford, H.J., Rowsell, E., Chan, C., Griffiths, H., & Robjant, K. (2020). Five applications of narrative exposure therapy for children and adolescents presenting with post-traumatic stress disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11,19.
Franco, D. (2018). Trauma without borders: The necessity for school-based interventions in treating unaccompanied refugee minors. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 35,6, 551-565.
Gary, J., & Rubin, N.S. (2014). A first-person account of the refugee experience: Identifying psychosocial stressors and formulating psychological responses. American Psychological Association, APA.
Given-Wilson, Z., Hodes, M., &Herlihy, J. (2018). A review of adolescent autobiographical memory and the implications for assessment of unaccompanied minors’ refugee determinations. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 23,2, 209-222.
Isakson, B. L., Legerski, J. P., & Layne, C. M. (2015). Adapting and implementing evidence-based interventions for trauma-exposed refugee youth and families. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 45, 245-253.
Kaplan, I., Stolk, Y., Valibhoy, M., Tucker, A., & Baker, J. (2016). Cognitive assessment of refugee children: Effects of trauma and new language acquisition. Transcultural Psychiatry, 53, 81-109.
King, D., & Said, G. (2019). Working with unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people: Cultural considerations and acceptability of a cognitive behavioural group approach. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 12, E11.
Lawton, K., & Spencer, A. (2021). A full systematic review on the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy for mental health symptoms in child refugees. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health,23, 624-639.
Legerski, J.P., Nedegaard, R., & Isakson, B.L. (2024). Evidence-based Practices for treating child and adolescent refugees. In Maragakis, A., & Janikian, M. (eds) Evidence-Based Behavioural Health Practices in Paediatric Specialty Settings. Springer, Cham.
McPherson, J. (2012). Does narrative exposure therapy reduce PTSD in survivors of mass violence? Research on Social Work Practice, 22,1, 29-42.
Miller-Graff, L.E. & Campion, K. (2016). Interventions for Posttraumatic stress with children exposed to violence: Factors associated with treatment success. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 72,3, 226-248.
Molendijik, M., Baart, C., Schaffeld, J., Akcakaya, Z., Ronnau, C., Kooistra, M., de Kliene, R., Strater, C., Mooshammer, L. (2024). Psychological interventions for PTSD, depression, and anxiety in child, adolescent, and adult forced migrants: A systematic review and frequentist and Bayesian meta-analyses. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy,31,4, e3042.
Murray, J. S. (2019). War and conflict: Addressing the psychosocial needs of child refugees. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 40,1, 3-18.
NICE (2018). Post-traumatic stress disorder. National Institute for Health & Care Excellence, NICE, NG116.
O’Callaghan, P., McMullen, J., Shannon, C., & Rafety, H. (2015). Comparing a trauma focused and non-trauma focused intervention with war affected Congolese youth: A preliminary randomised trial. Intervention, 13,1, 28-44.
O’Gorman, S. (2018). The case for integrating trauma informed family therapy clinical practice within the school context. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 46,5, 557-565.
Olness K. (2021). Trauma and PTSD in children who are refugees or immigrants. In Harkensee C., Olness K., & Esmaili B.E. (eds) Child Refugee and Migrant Health. Springer, Cham.
Onyut, L. P., Neuner, F., Schauer, E., Ertl, V., Odenwald, M., Schauer, M. & Elbert, T. (2005). Narrative exposure therapy as a treatment for child war survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder: Two case reports and a pilot study in an African refugee settlement. BioMed Central Psychiatry, 5,7.
Park, J.K., Park, J., Elbert, T., & Kim, S.J. (2020). Effects of narrative exposure therapy on posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and insomnia in traumatized North Korean refugee youth. Jornal of Traumatic Stress, 33,3,353-359.
Peltonen, K., & Kangaslampi, S. (2019). Treating children and adolescents with multiple traumas: A randomized clinical trial of narrative exposure therapy. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 10,1.
Pfeiffer, E., & Goldbeck, L. (2017). Evaluation of a trauma-focused group intervention for unaccompanied young refugees: A pilot study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 30,5,531-536.
Richter, K., Baumgartner, L., Niklewski, G., Peter, L., Kock, M., Kellner, S. (2020). Sleep disorders in migrants and refugees: A systematic review with implications for personalised medical approach. EPMA Journal, 11,2, 251-260.
Robjant, K. Koebach, A., Schmitt, S., Chibashimba, A., Carleial, S. (2019). The treatment of posttraumatic stress symptoms and aggression in female former child soldiers using adapted narrative exposure therapy: An RCT in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 123, 103482.
Ruf, M., Schauer, M., Neuner, F., Catani, C., Schauer, E., & Elbert T. (2010). Narrative exposure therapy for 7- to 16-year-olds: A randomized controlled trial with traumatized refugee children. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23, 4, 437-445.
Said, G. & King, D. (2020). Implementing narrative exposure therapy for unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors with post-traumatic stress disorder: A pilot feasibility report. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 25,1, 213-226.
Said, G., Alqadri, Y., & King, D. (2021). Unaccompanied minors’ experiences of narrative exposure therapy. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 14, E11.
Sarkadi, A., Adhal, K., Stenvall, E., Ssegonia, R., Batti, H., Gavra, P., Fangstrom, K., &Salari, R. (2018). Teaching recovery techniques: Evaluation of a group intervention for unaccompanied refugee minors with symptoms of PTSD in Sweden. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 27,4, 467-479.
Schroeder, E. (2019). Mental health interventions for refugee children: University of Oxford series of podcasts. The Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford.
Sullivan, A., Simonson, G. (2016). A systematic review of school-based social-emotional interventions for refugee and war-traumatised youth. Review of Educational Research, 86,2.
Tyrer, R., & Fazel, M (2014). School and community based interventions for refugee and asylum seeking children: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 9,2, e89359.
UK Trauma Council (UKTC) & Anna Freud Centre (2022). Childhood trauma and PTSD.A play list of informative animated videos on childhood trauma and PTSD for children, young people, and their families and for mental health professionals, demonstrating how to work through key stages of Cognitive Therapy with children and young people.
Unterhitzenberger, J., Wintersohl, S., Lang, M., Konig, J., &Rosner, R. (2019). Providing manualised individual trauma-focused CBT to unaccompanied refugee minors with uncertain residence status: A pilot study. Child Adolescent Psychiatry & Ment Health 13, 22.
Unterhitzenberger, J., & Rosner, R. (2016). Case report: Manualised trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy with an unaccompanied refugee minor girl. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 7,1.
Unterhitzenberger, J., Eberle-Sejari, R., Rassenhofer, M., Sukale, T., Rosner, R., & Goldbeck, L. (2015). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy with unaccompanied refugee minors: A case series. BMC Psychiatry, 15,260.
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Catani, C., Kohiladevy, M., Ruf, M., Schauer, E., Elbert, T., & Neuner, F. (2012). Treating children traumatized by war and Tsunami: A comparison between exposure therapy and meditation-relaxation in North-East Sri Lanka. BMC Psychiatry, 9, 22.
Every, D., Smith, K., Smith, B., Trigg, J., & Thompson, K, (2017). How can a donkey fly on the plane? The benefits and limits of animal therapy with refugees. Clinical Psychologist, APA, Australian Psychological Society, 21,1, 44-53.
Goodman, G., & Dent, V. F. (2019). When I became a refugee, this became my refuge: A proposal for implementing a two-generation intervention using yoga and narrative to promote mental health in Syrian refugee caregivers and school readiness in their preschool children. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 18,4, 367–375.
Gordon, J.S., Staples, J.K., Blyta, A., Bytyqi,. M., Wilson, A.T. (2008). Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in post-war Kosovar adolescents using mind-body skills groups: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 69,9, 1469-1476.
Lesmana, C.B.J., Suryani, L.K., Jensen, G.D., & Tiliopoulos, N. (2009). A spiritual-hypnosis assisted treatment of children with PTSD after the 2002 Bali terrorist attack. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 52,1, 23-34.
Lindsey, L., Robertson, P., & Lindsey, B. (2018). Expressive arts and mindfulness: Aiding adolescents in understanding and managing their stress. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 13,3, 288-297.
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Ahmad, A.N., & Langer, P.C. (2024). Through their eyes: Contextualised analysis of drawings by former ISIS child soldiers in Iraq. Social Inclusion, 12.
Akthar, Z., & Lovell, A. (2019). Art therapy with refugee children: A qualitative study explored through the lens of art therapists and their experiences. International Journal of Art Therapy, 24,3, 139-148.
Al-Hroub, A. (2023). Art therapy interventions for Syrian child and adolescent refugees: Enhancing mental well-being and resilience. Current Psychiatry Reports,25,12,857-863.
Baker, F. & Jones, C. (2006). The effect of music therapy services on classroom behaviours of newly arrived refugee students in Australia : A pilot study. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 11,4, 249-260.
Byers, J.G. (1996). Children of the Stones: Art therapy interventions in the West Bank. Art Therapy, Journal of American the Art Association, 13,4, 238-243.
Clacherty, G. (2024). Drawings in a “Container”: A visual narrative approach to research with refugee children. Social Inclusion, 12.
Deguara, J. (2024). ‘I don’t want war in my house’: Young children’s meaning‐making of war and peace through their drawings. Social Inclusion, 12.
Denov, M. (2024). Exploring the lives of children born of conflict‐related sexual violence through art. Social Inclusion, 12.
Dieterich-Hartwell, R., & Koch, S.C. (2017). Creative arts therapies as temporary home for refugees: Insights from literature and practice. Behavioural Sciences, 7,4, 69.
Dobretsova, A., & Wiese, E.B.P. (2019). Sandplay: Psychotrauma signs in asylum seeking adolescents. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 18,4, 403-416.
Feen-Calligan, H., Grasser, L.R., Nasser, S., Sniderman, D., & Javanbakht, A. (2023). Photovoice techniques and art therapy approaches with refugee and immigrant adolescents. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 83,102005.
Feen-Calligan, H., Grasser, L.R., Debryn, J., Nasser, S., Jackson, C., Seguin, D., & Javanbakht, A. (2020). Art therapy with Syrian refugee youth in the United States: An intervention study. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 69, 101665.
Gray, R. (2025). Using art therapy to support refugees. NSW, Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors, STARTTS, Clinical Master Class Webinar.
Global Press Journal (2018). Art therapy: Refugees in Ugandan camp using drawing and drama to heal trauma.
Grasser, L.R., Al-saghir, H., Vanna, C., Spinei, J., & Javanbakht, A. (2019). Moving through the trauma: Dance/movement therapy as a somatic-based intervention for addressing trauma and stress among Syrian refugee Children. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 58,11, 1124-1126.
Hamouda, L., Ochoa-Ronderos, M., Elejla, S.A., Keven, L., Kronick, R. (2024). The spaces in between: Understanding children’s creative expression in temporary shelters for asylum seekers. Social Inclusion, 12.
Hoare, R. (2025). Pathways to healing: Expressive arts practice with adolescent refugees. In McGowan, E., Jalovcic, D., & Quinn, S. (Eds.). Interprofessional Approach to Refugee Health: A Practical Guide for Interdisciplinary Health and Social Care Teams (pp. 119-150). Open Book Publishers.
Keiller, E., Tjasink, M., Bourne, J., Ougrin, D., Carr, C. E., & Lau, J. Y. F. (2023). A systematic review of dramatherapy interventions used to alleviate emotional distress and support the well-being of children and young people aged 8–18 years old. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry Advances, 3,3, e12145.
Killian, T., Cardona, B., & Hudspeth, E. F. (2017). Culturally responsive play therapy with Somali refugees. International Journal of Play Therapy, 26,1, 23-32.
Kronick, R., Rousseau, C., & Cleveland, J. (2018). Refugee children’s sandplay narratives in immigration detention in Canada. European Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 27,4, 423-437.
Krüger, V., Murphy, K.M. (2025). Music therapy in mental health and well-being. In Child-Centred Music Therapy (pp. 113-136). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Kurahashi, Y. (2004). Theatre as the healing space: Ping Chong’s children of war. Studies in Theatre and Performance, 24,1, 23-36.
Kuriansky, J. (2019). A model psychosocial support training and workshop during a medical mission for Syrian refugee children in Jordan: Techniques, lessons learned and recommendations. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 18,4, 352-366.
Lee, S.Y. (2013). “Flow” in art therapy: Empowering immigrant children with adjustment difficulties. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 30,2, 56-63.
Lindsey, L. Roberson, P., & Lindsey, B. (2018). Expressive arts and mindfulness: Aiding adolescents in understanding and managing their stress. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 13,3, 288-297.
Marsh. K. (2017). Creating bridges: Music, play and well-being in the lives of refugee and immigrant children and young people. Journal of Music Education Research, 19,1, 60-73.
Meyer-DeMott, M.A., Jakobsen, M., Wentzel-Larsen, T., & Heir, T. (2017). A controlled early group intervention study for unaccompanied minors: Can expressive arts alleviate symptoms of trauma and enhance life satisfaction? Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 58,6, 510-518.
Nakhost-Isfahani, S. (2008). Art therapy with a young refugee woman: Survivor of war. International Journal of Art Therapy, 13,2, 79-87.
Parker, D., Yunes, L., Orabi, M., Procter, S., & Paulini M. (2023). Music therapy as a protection strategy against toxic stress for Palestinian refugee children in Lebanon: A pilot research study. Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy,15,1.
Posselt, T., & Hoog-Antink, M. (2016). The sound of lost homes: Music therapy with refugees in Germany. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, 25, 1, 108-108.
Quinlan, R., Schweitzer, R.D., Khawaja, N., & Griffin, J. (2016). Evaluation of a school-based creative arts therapy programme for adolescents from refugee backgrounds. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 47, 72-78.
Rousseau, C., Benoit, M., Gauthier, M.F, Lacorix, L., & Bourassa, D. (2007). Classroom drama therapy programme for immigrant and refugee adolescents: A pilot study. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 12,3, 451-465.
Rousseau, C., Drapeau, A., Lacroix, L., Bagilishya, D., & Heusch, N. (2005). Evaluation of a classroom program of creative expression workshops for refugee and immigrant children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46,2, 180-185.
Rousseau, C., Lacroix, L., Singh, A., Gauthier, M.-F., & Benoit, M. (2005). Creative expression workshops in school: Prevention programs for immigrant and refugee children. The Canadian Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Review, 14,3, 77-80.
Sullivan, A., & Simonson, G. (2016). A systematic review of school-based social-emotional interventions for refugee and war-traumatized youth. Review of Educational Research, 86,2.
Tyrer, R., & Fazel, M (2014). School and community-based interventions for refugee and asylum seeking children: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 9,2, e89359.
Ugurlu, N., Akca, L., & Acarturk, C. (2016). An art therapy intervention for symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety among Syrian refugee children. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 11,2, 89-102.
Wihstutz, A. (2020). ‘I can’t sit here and cry with you, I have to play’. Strategies by very young children in refugee collective accommodation. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 28,1, 115-128.
Woolley, H. (2021). Beyond the fence: Constructed and found spaces for children’s outdoor play in natural and human-induced disaster contexts - lessons from north-east Japan, and Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 56, 102155.
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Franco, D. (2018). Trauma without borders: The necessity for school-based interventions in treating unaccompanied refugee minors. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 35,6, 551-565.
Goodkind J., LaNoue M., Lee C., Freeland L., & Freund R. (2012). Feasibility, acceptability, and initial findings from a community-based cultural mental health intervention for American Indian youth and their families. Journal of Community Psychology, 40, 4, 381-405.
Gottschald, G.M. & Sierau, S. (2020). Growing up in times of war: Unaccompanied refugee minors’ assumptions about the world and themselves. Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 18,2, 189-206.
Isakson, B. L., Legerski, J. P., & Layne, C. M. (2015). Adapting and implementing evidence-based interventions for trauma-exposed refugee youth and families. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 45, 245-253.
Killian, T., Cardona, B., & Hudspeth, E. F. (2017). Culturally responsive play therapy with Somali refugees. International Journal of Play Therapy, 26,1, 23-32.
King, D., & Said, G. (2019). Working with unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people: Cultural considerations and acceptability of a cognitive behavioural group approach. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 12, E11.
Kira, I.A., Amer, M.M., & Wrobel, N.H. (2023). Arab refugees: Trauma, resilience, and recovery. In Nassar, S.C., Ajrouch, K.J., Dallo, F.J., & Hakim-Larson, J. (eds) Biopsychosocial Perspectives on Arab Americans (pp. 159-184). Springer, Cham.
Kuttikat, M., Lund, M. B., Chan, D., & Sahoo, I. (2025). A conceptual model of refugee family dynamics: A study with Sri Lankan Tamils. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22,2, 169.
Legerski, J.P., Nedegaard, R., & Isakson, B.L. (2024). Evidence-based Practices for treating child and adolescent refugees. In Maragakis, A., Janikian, M. (eds) Evidence-Based Behavioural Health Practices in Paediatric Specialty Settings. Springer, Cham.
Radjack, R., Touhami, F., Woestelandt, L., Minassian, S., Muchenick, Y., Lachal, J., & Moro., M.R. (2020). Cultural competence of professionals working with unaccompanied minors: Addressing empathy by a shared narrative. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 528.
Sotelo, I. (2024). The power of 'Cuento’: Healing through storytelling. Verywell Mind.
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Adler-Tapia, R., & Settle, C. (2012). Specialty topics on using EMDR with children. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 6,3.
Banoğlu, K., & Korkmazlar, U. (2022). Efficacy of the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing group protocol with children in reducing post traumatic stress disorder in refugee children. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 6,1, 100241.
Barron, I. G. (2018). EMDR therapy with children and adolescents. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 12,4.
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EMDR Europe Conference (2016). Experience-based EMDR practices and research (EMDR Italy Association Network) with refugees and asylum seekers in Italy. Papers presented on the applications of EMDR with refugees and asylum seekers. Hague, Netherland.
Gattinara, P.C., Onofri, A., & Angelini, C. (2016). The EMDR approach used as a tool to provide psychological help to refugees and asylum seekers. In Nickerson, M. (ed.) Cultural competence and healing culturally based trauma with EMDR therapy: Innovative strategies and protocols. Springer Publishing Company.
Gattinara, P. C. & Pallini, S. (2017). The use of EMDR with refugee and asylum seekers: A review of research studies. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 14,5, 341-344.
Hurn, R., & Barron, I. G. (2018). The EMDR integrative group treatment protocol in a psychosocial program for refugee children: A qualitative pilot study. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 12,4.
Jarero, I., Roque-Lopez, S., & Gomez, J. (2013). The Provision of an EMDR-Based multicomponent trauma treatment with child victims of severe interpersonal trauma. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 7,1.
Lempertz, D., Wichmann, M., Enderle, E., Stellermann-Strehlow, K., Pawils, S., & Metzner, F. (2020). Pre-Post study to assess EMDR-based group therapy for traumatised refugee pre-schoolers. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 14,1.
Oras, R., Ezpeleta, S. C. de, & Ahmad, A. (2004). Treatment of traumatized refugee children with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in a psychodynamic context. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 58,3, 199-203.
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Perilli, S., Giuliani, A., Pagani, M., Mazzoni, G. P., Maslovaric, G., Maccarrone, B., Mahasneh, V. H., & Morales, D. (2019). EMDR group treatment of children refugees: A field study. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 13,2, 143–155.
Zaghrout-Hodali, M. (2014). Humanitarian work using EMDR in Palestine and the Arab world. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 8,4, 248-251.
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Amias, D., Hughes, G., & Barratt, S. (2014). Multi-layered systemic and narrative interventions with refugees and asylum seekers in a community child and adolescent mental health service. Journal of Therapy, Consultation & Training, 25,1, 25-30.
Bala, J., Mooren, T., & Cramer, S. (2014). Cultural Competence in the treatment of political refugees based on system approaches. Clinical Neuropsychiatry: Journal of Treatment Evaluation, 11,1, 32-39.
Betancourt, T. S., Abdi, S., Ito, B. S., Lilienthal, G. M., Agalab, N., & Ellis, H. (2015). We left one war and came to another: Resource loss, acculturative stress, and caregiver-child relationships in Somali refugee families. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 21,1, 114-125.
Björn, G. J., Boden, C., Sydsjö, G., & Gustafsson, P. A., (2013). Brief Family Therapy for Refugee Children. The Family Journal, 21,3, 272-278.
Björn, G. J., Gustafsson, P. A., Sydsjö, G., & Berterö, C. (2013). Family therapy sessions with refugee families: A qualitative study. Conflict and Health, 7, 7.
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Haene, L.D., Adriaenssens, P., Derruddere, N., & Rober, P. (2020). Trauma narration in family therapy with refugees: Working between silence and story in supporting a meaningful engagement with family trauma history. In Haene, L.D., & Rousseau, C. (eds.), working with refugee families: trauma and exile in family relationships (pp. 148-171). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hong, J., Ruacho, H.C., Zeng, X., & Franklin, C. (2025). A scoping review of family-based interventions for immigrant/refugee children: Exploring intergenerational trauma. Community Mental Health Journal, 61, 1253–1268.
Isakson, B. L., Legerski, J. P., & Layne, C. M. (2015). Adapting and implementing evidence-based interventions for trauma-exposed refugee youth and families. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 45, 245-253.
Kaplin, D., Parente, K., & Santacroce, F.A. (2019). A review of the use of trauma systems therapy to treat refugee children, adolescents, and families. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 18,4, 417-431.
Kuttikat, M., Lund, M. B., Chan, D., & Sahoo, I. (2025). A conceptual model of refugee family dynamics: A study with Sri Lankan Tamils. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22,2, 169.
Martin, P. (2012). ‘Grief that has no vent in tears, makes other organs weep.’ Seeking refuge from trauma in the medical setting. Journal of Child Psychotherapy. 38,1, 3-21.
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Akinsulure-Smith, A. (2009). Brief psychoeducational group treatment with re-traumatized refugees and asylum seekers. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 34,2, 137-150.
Banoğlu, K., & Korkmazlar, U. (2022). Efficacy of the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing group protocol with children in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder in refugee children. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 6,1, 100241.
Byers, J.G. (1996). Children of the stones: Art therapy interventions in the West Bank. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 13, 4, 238-243.
Ehntholt, K., Smith, P., & Yule, W. (2005). School-based cognitive behavioural therapy group intervention for refugee children who have experienced war-related trauma. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 10,2, 235-250.
Garoff, F., Kangaslampi, S., & Peltonen, K. (2019). Development and implementation of a group based mental health intervention for unaccompanied minors. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 60,1, 7-15.
Gordon, J.S., Staples, J.K., Blyta, A., Bytyqi,. M., Wilson, A.T. (2008). Treatment of post traumatic stress disorder in post-war Kosovar adolescents using mind-body skills groups: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 69,9, 1469-1476.
Gormez, V., Kilic, H.N., Orengul, A.C., Demir, M.N., Mert, E.B., Makhlouta, B., Kinik, K., & Semerci, B. (2017). Evaluation of a school-based, teacher-delivered psychological intervention group program for trauma-affected Syrian refugee children in Istanbul, Turkey. Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 27,2, 125-131.
Hurn, R., & Barron, I. G. (2018). The EMDR integrative group treatment protocol in a psychosocial program for refugee children: A qualitative pilot study. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 12,4.
Hutchinson, R., King, N., & Majumder, P. (2022). How effective is group intervention in the treatment for unaccompanied and accompanied refugee minors with mental health difficulties: A systematic review. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 68,3,484-499.
King, D., & Said, G. (2019). Working with unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people: Cultural considerations and acceptability of a cognitive behavioural group approach. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 12, E11.
Lempertz, D., Wichmann, M., Enderle, E., Stellermann-Strehlow, K., Pawils, S., & Metzner, F. (2020). Pre-Post study to assess EMDR-based group therapy for traumatised refugee pre-schoolers. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 14,1.
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This page contains carefully selected evidence-based research that utilises a wide range of psychological models of therapy in the treatment of refugee and asylum-seeking children. The aim is to improve their mental health and facilitate their transition and adjustment to life in the UK. Models of therapy featured include Creative, Narrative, Family Systems, Culturally-Informed, Cognitive Behavioural, etc.
We are grateful to the researchers and mental health practitioners whose works are referenced here. Their invaluable insights and expertise not only enhance our resources but also support the ongoing development of best practices for professionals working with refugees and asylum-seeking children.
Follow the links below to access the resources.