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A grounded theory exploration of therapists' views and experiences of working with asylum seekers using trauma-focused integrative interventions

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Bravo, Joao Tiago (2025) A grounded theory exploration of therapists' views and experiences of working with asylum seekers using trauma-focused integrative interventions. Doctoral thesis, London Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

Overview: Asylum seekers (AS) might be highly vulnerable to PTSD due to trauma exposure, highlighting the importance of exploring and implementing Trauma-Focused Interventions to meet their psychological needs. AS have been perceived interchangeably with refugees, despite facing often different social-economic challenges in western hosting countries. There seems to be a limited understanding of therapists' views and experiences in delivering Trauma-Focused Interventions specifically with AS, particularly when the complexities of destitution and the threat of deportation actively influence the therapeutic process.
Aim: A Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT) was used to explore the views and experience of their therapeutic practice and how they adapt to their AS client’s needs.
Methodology: Twelve therapists trained in delivering Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Interventions (TF-CBT) to AS within the charity sector were interviewed, however, as the research progressed, the focus shifted to exploring therapists’ views and experiences of integrative therapeutic practices instead.
Findings: The participants described efforts to navigate bureaucratic systems, such as the Home Office and the NHS, while simultaneously attempting to raise awareness of the broader societal context. These accounts seem to suggest the need for casework, tailored therapeutic interventions, and the adoption of an eclectic and integrative approach. The outcomes also seem to indicate that both their experiences (experiential) and views (theoretical) dictate the models that the participants chose.
Discussion: The empirical findings appear to suggest that participants engage in an ongoing process of addressing contextual obstacles and this process might be often framed within reflective practice, where participants draw on humanistic principles as a guiding protocol. Through this lens, participants encourage a shift toward a more human-centred and integrative therapeutic approach, enhancing the efficacy of trauma integrative interventions within this unique context.

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