Complex Trauma, dissociation, delusion: Presentation of symptoms of an Asylum seeker and role of a psychologist in clarifying it with the legal system

The process of asylum seeking in New Zealand can be taxing and challenging for both asylum seekers and the immigration. This presentation will discuss the complex and demanding efforts required by psychologist to meet the... [ view full abstract ]

The process of asylum seeking in New Zealand can be taxing and challenging for both asylum seekers and the immigration.
This presentation will discuss the complex and demanding efforts required by psychologist to meet the challenges of providing support to an asylum seeker in New Zealand with the Immigration Protection Tribunal (IPT) through the use of a case study of a 30-year-old Palestinian female with complex trauma.
The presence at the Tribunal entailed clarification on the diagnosis, provision of insight on credibility of client within the framework of therapy, provision of insight on the influence of the culture on the symptoms and impact of the decision on the presentation of symptoms. In this study each of the component will be investigated and discussed.
The preparation of the psychologist and the consultation with other professional’s involved in the case will be examined. The presentation will go onto discuss the benefits of such involvement to the client and her family as well as the legal system. Additionally, the challenges involved in ‘psychologist as an expert witness’, maintaining an unbiased perspective, avoidance of ethical pitfalls and the impact on the long term therapeutic relationship between the psychologist and client will be explored.