An exploratory study of healing circles as a strategy to facilitate resilience in an undocumented community

Bibliographic Data

ID15802442
AuthorsF Ruiz Morales (0000-0002-3608-415X, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, corresponding author), José Manuel González Vera (0000-0001-5537-7604, Utah State University), Michelle Alejandra Silva (0000-0003-4036-2279, Yale University), Germán A Cadenas (0000-0001-6661-496X, Lehigh University), Jenifer García Mendoza (Dream Laboratory (United Kingdom)), Luz M Garcini (0000-0002-3834-9107, The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center), Manuel Paris (0000-0002-4658-9936, Yale University), Amanda Venta (0000-0002-1641-123X, University of Houston), Melanie M Domenech Rodríguez (0000-0002-6610-6890, Utah State University), Alfonso Mercado (0000-0002-3127-9724, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley)
Year2023
Volume11
Issue2
Pages119-133
Publication date2023-03-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Latinx Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2578-8086 • E-ISSN: 2578-8094
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/lat0000221
PMID37841450
OpenAlexW4327948854
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited14

Within the United States (U.S.), the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted critical inequalities affecting undocumented communities and resulting in particularly heightened stress for members of these communities. In addition to the stress associated to COVID-19, immigrants in the U.S. were more than ever subjected to a hostile anti-immigrant climate under Trump's administration. Given this compounded stress, the impact of the pandemic on mental health is likely to be disproportionately experienced by undocumented immigrants. In response, a group of psychologists partnered with a leading immigrant rights advocacy organization and formed a reciprocal collaboration to support undocumented communities. A major focus of the collaboration is to foster learning, supporting members of the immigrant community to contribute to their own well-being and others in the community. Accordingly, the collaborative developed and delivered a web-based mental health education session to the immigrant community and to practitioners serving this population. The session presented the use of healing circles as a strength-based approach to building resilience and also sought feedback regarding specific features of healing circles that can enhance their effectiveness in managing distress. Survey data and qualitative findings from this study show that those who participated in the web-based program perceived the session as validating and informative. Findings also underscored the need for creating safe spaces for community members to be vulnerable about their lived experiences while promoting ownership of their narratives. We discuss practical implications pertaining to the development and facilitation of social support groups for immigrants led by non-specialist community members trained for this role

Community resilience · Focus group · Immigration · Mental health · Political science · Population · Psychological resilience · Public relations · Resource (disambiguation · Sociology · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Resilience and Mental Health · Social Psychology