Children in Exile: Therapeutic Work in the Community and the Clinic with Child Survivors of Political Violence and War

The first book to focus on the mental health of refugee children, Children in Exile looks at therapeutic work with such children and discusses the issues involved for them, their therapists and other care workers. Containing children's own accounts of their experiences of both their escape and subsequent treatment, the book examines the unique problems children have as refugees and their implications. Therapists have to take into account the child's internal shock and horror at violence and flight; having to adapt to their new environment of school and community in their adopted country; and their family situation and the well-being or otherwise of family and siblings- for example, the difficulties encountered in reuniting unaccompanied Bosnian children with relatives.The book describes various methods of working with children and adolescents in both therapy and refugee centers, discussing the activities and approaches used, the differences between difference age groups and illustrating the work done with case studies. The international, European, and UK legal perspectives on refugee children are also examined, and the rights that children have as asylum seekers, particularly when unaccompanied. The book highlights gaps between asylum and childcare law and the ramifications for the children, and describes the latest research into their experience of legal representation in the asylum process. Children in Exile will be of interest to all who work or come into contact with refugee children.