Global migration and displacement are rising annually due to political turmoil, safety threats, economic hardships, armed conflict, harassment, and persecution. Migrants from the Middle East and North Africa often move to neighboring countries for geographical and cultural reasons, while others aim for distant destinations, particularly in the Global West. Practitioners, clinicians, educators, researchers, and spiritual caregivers need enhanced cross-cultural understanding and therapeutic skills to support these populations. This workshop covers the migrants’ mental-emotional needs, social-cultural struggles, and common misconceptions. It also explores their norms, values, split identities, traumas, and survival strategies. Additionally, it identifies the challenges they face in assimilation, accommodation, and acculturation within new host societies. The seminar provides practical tips, clinical tools, therapeutic guidelines, and resources, along with an extended bibliography for future reference.
723 | Understanding and Working with Migrants and Refugees, especially from Middle-Eastern-Arabic Backgrounds.
PRESENTERS
Naji Abi-Hashem, Ph.D.
CE CREDITS
1.25
Approved For CE
APA, ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, IBCC, Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, AMA PRA Category 1 Credits, AOA Category 2A Credits, Georgia Nurses Association, AAFP
Approved For CME/CEU
LEVEL
Intermediate
Summary
Learning Objectives
1 Describe three struggles, needs, challenges, and functioning-patterns of migrants-refugees, especially Arab-Americans, about their generational values, coping and adaptations.
2 Outline two negative generalizations and two differences between the assimilation/integration and fragmentation/isolation processes of minority population.
3 Apply three therapeutic interventions or clinical questions to effectively assess immigrants-refugees and help them acculturate/navigate the American psychosocial landscape.