Have you heard of “Historical Trauma”?
Historical trauma, or intergenerational trauma, refers to complex and collective trauma experienced over time and across generations by a group of people who share an identity, affiliation, or circumstance. Originally introduced to describe the experiences of children of Holocaust survivors, the term “historical trauma” is now applied to multiple populations that have historically been marginalized within a society.
Figure 1 describes how historical trauma can influence the health of individuals and communities. It elucidates the origins of the distresses experienced by marginalized minority groups, and the relevance of this series of toolkits for them.
Source: Mohatt NV, Thompson AB, Thai ND, Tebes JK. Historical trauma as public narrative: A conceptual review of how history impacts present-day health. Soc Sci Med 2014; 106:128–136.
Negative effects of historical trauma can include a range of psychiatric symptoms as well as greater vulnerability to stress. These findings underscore how intergenerational effects can go beyond the manifestation of PTSD or traumatic stress symptoms specifically to include other psychological or well-being outcomes.
We’re trying out a new format for the trainings and coaching at PsychEvalCoach. Our certificate program will now be offered four times per year only on a 2-day intensive format.
July’s training was a huge success!!
Our next training will take place on:
Friday, October 7th & Saturday, October 8th
9am - 3pm (Pacific)
11am - 5pm (Central)
12pm - 6pm (Eastern)
In addition to learning how to perform the 7 most common types of immigration evaluations, participants will get hands-on training on marketing their services to immigration attorneys, tips for working with interpreters, some guidelines for testifying in immigration court, and self-care practices for preventing vicarious trauma.
Participation also includes:
- 12 continuing education units sponsored by the San Diego Psychological Association
- Everything you need to get started: sample reports, intake guides, consent forms, symptom checklists, etc.
- FREE monthly consultations with me! (a $600 value)
- Discounted membership on the Immigration Psych Eval Directory (plus all the perks you get by having a listing)
- Certificate of completion for display
- and more!
You can now purchase our 4 fundamental courses On-Demand!
I look forward to seeing you on August 10th!
Can’t make it? Our next consultation group is scheduled for September 7th!
Sign up now!
Dr. Mariela G. Shibley’s book is FINALLY out!
"Shibley and Holt, collaborating as psychologist and lawyer, have designed a tool which empowers mental health professionals to better assist their work with immigrants, their families, and counsel on a variety of immigration benefits, including cases in the immigration courts. Drawing from their personal experiences to give practical instruction, this book provides important advice to novice and seasoned professionals alike on best practices for working with clients and their attorneys."
-Allen Orr Jr., President, American Immigration Lawyers Association
Order your copy now and save 20% with code FLE22*
*coupon only valid on the Routledge website
Did you know?
Studies have shown that the most important protective factor for undocumented immigrants’ mental health is whether they receive adequate social support. Other protective factors include pride in ethnicity, bilingualism and multilingualism, and spirituality.
Encourage and advocate for the unification of patients with their families.
Connect patients to resources. Emphasize the importance of social supports for the well-being and recovery of disenfranchised populations. Connections with resources can be just as important as receiving treatment.
Provide consistent and accessible follow up. Undocumented immigrants often distrust the health care system and may require more frequent and consistent follow-up to create a sense of trust. Collaborative decision-making and motivational interviewing can be helpful when culturally sensitive.
Spirituality and faith should be assessed and incorporated into treatment planning if the patient desires.
Minimize language barriers. Make an attempt to offer resources in patients’ native languages.
Collaborate with community organizations that support undocumented immigrants in multiple facets of their lives, including family supports.
