CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience: Evaluation of brief therapy for refugees
Abstract
This report evaluates the impact of brief therapy sessions provided by the CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience to recently-arrived refugees. A combination of client surveys, client interviews and referring partner interviews were used to evaluate brief therapy outcomes.
Notes
Gaps identified
Short time period of evaluation, longitudinal studies would be effective
Low sample (10 clients for interviews and surveys combined), data is preliminary
Key recommendations
Maintain the brief therapy sessions for refugee clients, and provide resources for further sessions if required
Find opportunities to provide brief therapy to more individuals, and maintain data collection for the program
Key findings
All of clients interviewed indicated brief therapy sessions were helpful, with increased feelings of hope, confidence, and decreased stress being notable benefits; participants also indicated beliefs that if brief therapy had not occurred, feelings of trauma may have worsened. Feelings of being heard and trust were important to clients
Most clients (94%) needed an interpreter for therapy sessions
Partners that referred clients to therapy sessions indicated that clients received culturally responsive therapy, and timely support for clients in crisis
Areas of improvement by partners include increased follow-up, flexibliity surrounding therapy, providing awareness before crises, and increased staffing
Key population
Refugees
Location
Calgary
Alberta
Community organizations
Integration timeline
Open access-No