Healing in the Midst of Chaos: Nah We Yone’s African Women’s Wellness Group

Citation:

Akinsulure-Smith, Adeyinka M., Jessica B. Ghiglione, and Carrie Wollmershauser. 2008. “Healing in the Midst of Chaos: Nah We Yone’s African Women’s Wellness Group.” Women & Therapy 32 (1): 105-20. doi:10.1080/02703140802384602.

Authors: Adeyinka M. Akinsulure-Smith, Jessica B. Ghiglione, Carrie Wollmershauser

Abstract:

This article discusses the creative use of the group treatment modality to provide psychosocial support to African women refugees and asylum seekers with a history of refugee trauma, war, and human rights abuses who have fled to the United States. In particular, this article describes the African Women’s Wellness Group developed by Nah We Yone, Inc., a small grassroots organization in the New York City area. This women’s group draws on the tenets of traditional Western group psychotherapy while using African cultural awareness to provide healing. The rationale for this type of treatment, group design, specific techniques used to provide healing, along with various group-related themes and challenges are described. This type of treatment provides an example of the usefulness of group therapy technique with traumatized displaced women struggling to survive in a new cultural setting.

Keywords: African women, asylum seekers, refugees, trauma, war

Topics: Armed Conflict, Displacement & Migration, Refugees, Gender, Women, Health, Trauma, Rights, Human Rights Regions: Africa, Americas, North America Countries: United States of America

Year: 2008