Multimodal co-therapy for unaccompanied minors: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Social Work

Background:

• Unaccompanied minors are vulnerable children separated from family, facing significant stressors and psychiatric symptoms.
• Specialized mental health care is crucial for this population.
• This study examines the Multimodal Co-Therapy for Unaccompanied Minors (MUCTUM) program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore unaccompanied minors' lived experiences with the MUCTUM program.
• To understand the effectiveness of a multimodal, co-therapy approach in addressing the mental health needs of refugee youth.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews with 16 unaccompanied minors.
• Analysis of interviews using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
• MUCTUM involves a co-therapy team: psychiatrist, psychologist, interpreter, and caseworker.

Main Results:

• Participants reported feeling misunderstood, strange, and lonely prior to MUCTUM.
• Experiencing triple stigmatization: as unaccompanied minors, trauma survivors, and mental health patients.
• Key therapeutic domains identified: safe space, helpful interventions, and narrative expression.

Conclusions:

• MUCTUM therapy effectively supports unaccompanied minors' mental health by addressing their needs holistically.
• Key strategies include creating safety, culturally appropriate care, patient-centered therapy, and limited reparenting.
• Delayed, progressive trauma inquiry and further research are recommended.