Transnational Counselling: A New Approach to Counselling Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylees

In this course, Dr Luis Angelo Gomez, University of Maryland, explains the broad concepts of transnationalism with the objectives of helping attendees: (1) understand it; and (2) be able to diagnose individuals and families that meet the criteria for being transnational, thus enabling more culturally sensitive counselling. Citing the 21st century as the “era of migration” in that so many people around the globe are forced to move to another region/country, Dr Gomez gives a broad overview of the social, cultural, legal, and political challenges migrants face en route to a sense of feeling “at home” in a new country. Detailing both the transnational manifestations and resultant mental health challenges inherent in migration, Dr Gomez offers multiple examples – many drawn from his own experience as a native-born Chilean – to illustrate the issues at play.