An exploration of applied psychologists’ experience of working with female refugees or asylum seekers that have experienced sexual violence

There appear to be specific issues that psychologists need to consider when working with female refugees and asylum seekers that have experienced sexual violence. These include ethical, theoretical and practical concerns regarding psychological models and approaches, dilemmas regarding professional, personal and political stances, as well as challenges encountered when working with refugees and/or survivors of sexual violence in general. Research regarding applied psychologists‟ experience of working with this client group is limited, but it is important in order for them, and the services they work in, to meet the needs of this vulnerable group. Hence, eight applied psychologists were interviewed and transcripts analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. The analysis resulted in the formation of four super-ordinate themes: 1) Impact of the work, 2) Personal and professional identity, 3) Struggles with the tools of the trade and 4) Holding on to a „both/and‟ view. Implications of the findings concerned four areas: 1). politics and ideology of the profession, 2). psychological models and approaches, 3). support and supervision for professionals, and 4). increasing service user involvement in clinical practice, service development and research.