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Article
Creating a bridge to healing: a professional/paraprofessional team approach
Journal of Social Work Practice: Psychotherapeutic Approaches in Health, Welfare and the Community (2009)
  • Nicole Dubus
Abstract
This paper describes a therapeutic model in which an English-speaking licensed clinician and a bilingual paraprofessional provide psychotherapy using a team approach in working with Cambodian refugee survivors of the Khmer Rouge. The team approach model differs from professionals who use interpreters in psychotherapy. The strengths and challenges of this approach are discussed. Agencies that serve refugees may not have professionally trained mental health providers who are from the country of origin of their clients. This model holds promise to provide culturally sensitive treatment. However, it is a model that is in its infancy in terms of knowing what works and how to duplicate that to other agencies and populations. This paper shares some of the benefits as well as some of the drawbacks. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Keywords
  • refugees,
  • paraprofessional,
  • Cambodian,
  • team approach,
  • mental health treatment
Publication Date
2009
DOI
10.1080/02650530903102684
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Published in Journal of Social Work Practice: Psychotherapeutic Approaches in Health, Welfare and the Community, volume 23, issue 3, 2009.
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Citation Information
Nicole Dubus. "Creating a bridge to healing: a professional/paraprofessional team approach" Journal of Social Work Practice: Psychotherapeutic Approaches in Health, Welfare and the Community Vol. 23 Iss. 3 (2009) p. 327 - 336 ISSN: 0265-0533
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/nicole_dubus/15/