Group Counseling for Southeast Asian Refugee Children with Trauma Symptoms: Pilot Study Results and Practical Guidelines

Abstract

ABSTRACT Southeast Asian (SEA) refugee children tend to have numerous mental health problems such as trauma symptoms, depression, and low self-esteem. Yet, many SEA refugee children do not receive the counseling help they need due to barriers such as access and limited resources. One counseling intervention that overcomes these barriers is Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Trauma in Schools (CBITS). In this article, the authors identify the unique needs of SEA refugee children and describe a pilot study of implementing CBITS with 20 SEA refugee children, who were primarily from the Myanmar Chin population. Research questions were (1) is there a significant difference between the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) pretest and posttest measures of SEA refugee children’s trauma symptoms after they receive CBITS, and (2) what are guidelines for counselors implementing CBITS with SEA refugee children. The study method was a one group pretest–posttest research design with a convenience sample. Results were based on a paired samples t-test of CPPS pretest and posttest scores. Results showed statistically significant reductions in participants’ trauma symptoms as well as clinically significant reductions with a large effect size. The authors discuss practical guidelines for implementing CBITS with SEA refugee children including increasing awareness of the specific SEA subculture, not requiring identification of a specific traumatic event, recognizing vicarious learning from children to parents, and providing social justice advocacy for SEA refugee children.