“I didn’t understand their system, and I didn’t know what to do”: Migrant Parents’ Experiences of Mandated Therapy for Their Children

• Published in: Contemporary family therapy Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 25 - 40
• Main Authors: Ahn, Yeojin, Miller, Marianne McInnes, Wang, Linna, Laszloffy, Tracey
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.03.2014
• Subjects: Acculturation; American Psychological Association; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child Care Services; Childrearing Practices; Children; Clinical Psychology; Cultural Sensitivity; Family; Mental Health Services; Migrants; Original Paper; Parents; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Qualitative Methods; Social Work; Sociology; Qualitative research; Phenomenology; Acculturation; Cultural sensitivity; Refugees; Immigrants; Mandated therapy
• ISSN: 0892-2764; 1573-3335
• DOI: 10.1007/s10591-013-9291-1

In this phenomenological study, we explored the experiences of migrant parents whose children received mandated therapy in Southern California. Migrants are people who move to a host country either voluntarily as immigrants or involuntarily as refugees. Mandated therapy means that the school or court system required that their children receive services from a mental health provider. Parents often participated by having to take parenting classes and join in some sessions with their children; however, the children were the identified clients. We conducted eight, in-depth interviews with migrant parents. We employed Giorgi and Giorgi’s (Qualitative research in psychology: expanding perspectives in methodology and design. American Psychological Association, Washington, 2003 ; Qualitative psychology: a practical guide to research methods. Sage, London, 2008 ) phenomenological psychological research approach to analyze data. Analysis revealed four constituents, which are overarching themes related to the essential structure of the shared phenomenon: (a) migrant parents encountered discrimination and devaluation; (b) migrant parents experienced increased exposure to US culture and the mental health system, which accelerated acculturation; (c) the degree of cultural sensitivity exhibited by providers both positively and negatively influenced participants’ attitudes and perceptions toward mental health services; and (d) migrant parents used their mandated therapy experiences as opportunities to examine their family relationships and to learn new skills and concepts.