The Silent Cry of Migrant Children: How Positive Psychotherapy Helps Children in Exile Find their Voice
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This article is devoted to the study of the psychological consequences of forced migration in children and the possibilities of their therapeutic support within the framework of positive and transcultural psychotherapy (PTP). Based on clinical observations, parental reflection, and the author's practical experience, the phenomenon of the ‘child without a voice’ is examined - a migrant child who is unable to express the pain associated with the loss of home, belonging, and stable adult figures. The analysis is based on key concepts of PTC, including the balance model (comprising four spheres: body, activity, relationships, and future), the five-step therapeutic model, and the principle of hope, which enables the activation of the child's internal resources. Special attention is paid to metaphorical work, in particular the use of Ukrainian songs as a symbol of collective trauma and an archetype of hope. The article describes the characteristic manifestations of migration trauma in children: psychosomatic symptoms, regression, isolation, and silence. The author emphasises the importance of the therapist's role as a cultural mediator and emotionally reliable adult who can hear what cannot be said in words. The therapy uses narrative and body-based methods, positive reinterpretation, and the inclusion of parents as co-therapists. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for professionals working with migrant children, emphasising the importance of cultural sensitivity and restoring a sense of belonging and inner voice.
Source: The Global Psychotherapist
DOI: 10.52982/lkj282
Author: Viktoriia Ratushnenko
Language: English
Topic: Migration, Health and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4412038254