Healing from Trauma:

• This group was designed to be trauma-sensitive, aiding participants in healing from the psychological impact of forced displacement.

Reduction in Stress & Anxiety:

• Mindfulness and mindfulness practices are proven to assist in reducing negative symptoms associated with problems like PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Empowerment and Agency:

• Participants have the ability to gain a sense of agency and control over their mental and emotional states.

Community Building and Support:

• The group fosters community, offering support, reducing isolation, and creating a space for mutual understanding.

Resilience Building:

• Mindfulness practices contribute to resilience, equipping participants with coping strategies for challenges and adapting to new environments.

  
  

• The planning phase of this group could present a challenge if language becomes a barrier. Facilitators could avoid this potential challenge by arranging for an interpreter/translator to attend the meetings. A language barrier could limit the benefits of the group to only those who speak English fluently and limit the number of participants.

  
  

  Shift in Group Dynamic:

• Facilitators should consider the potential shift of the group dynamic that involving an interpreter can cause, potentially limiting or enhancing the therapeutic relationship.

  
  

  Gartley, T., & Due, C. (2016)

  
  

  Funding:

• Facilitators could look at hosting a volunteer opportunity which could present a free option.

  
  

  Cultural Barriers:

• It is important for the facilitator to be aware of such potential. Mitigating this could include research in the preliminary phase of planning.

  
  

  Overall Comfortability:

• Facilitators should be diligent about observing changes in body language, tone, and overall engagement from participants during the group. These changes may be early warning signs of disinterest or escalation to the result of participants choosing to not return.

Acknowledging Structural Injustices:

• Forced displacement often results from structural injustices, such as conflict, persecution, and human rights violations. An anti-oppressive approach recognizes and addresses these systemic issues, acknowledging that individuals and communities may be victims of larger oppressive structures.

  
  

Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity:

• Refugees come from diverse cultural backgrounds, and an anti-oppressive approach respects and values this diversity. Recognizing and celebrating the uniqueness of each individual's cultural identity is essential for providing effective and respectful support.

  
  

Trauma-Informed Care:

• Many forcibly displaced individuals have experienced trauma in various forms, including violence, displacement, and loss. An anti-oppressive approach in mental health interventions, like the Mindfulness-Based Trauma Recovery for Refugees (MBTR-R), takes into account the impact of trauma and aims to create a safe and empowering environment for healing.

  
  

Power Dynamics and Empowerment:

• Oppressive systems often involve power imbalances that can perpetuate further marginalization. An anti-oppressive approach seeks to challenge and dismantle these power dynamics, empowering individuals to be active participants in directing their own healing and recovery.

  
  

  Respecting Autonomy and Agency:

• Forced displacement can strip individuals of their autonomy and agency. An anti-oppressive approach emphasizes the importance of respecting individuals' voices and choices, involving them in decision-making processes related to their mental health and well-being.

  
  

Intersectionality:

• An anti-oppressive approach recognizes the intersecting identities and experiences that individuals may bring to the table. For example, Ukrainian refugees may face challenges related to their nationality, language, gender, or other aspects of their identity. Understanding these intersections helps tailor support accordingly.

  Cénat, J., Darious, W., Noorishad, P.-G., McIntee, S.-E., Dromer, E., Mukunzi, J., Solola, O., & Williams, M. (2022).

  
  

  Preventing Further Harm:

• Traditional approaches that do not consider the impact of oppression may inadvertently perpetuate harm. An anti-oppressive approach aims to break the cycle of harm by actively working against discriminatory practices and policies, fostering an environment of inclusion and equity.

  
  

Building Trust and Rapport:

• Trust is crucial in any therapeutic or supportive relationship. An anti-oppressive approach builds trust by demonstrating a commitment to fairness, justice, and the well-being of individuals, thereby creating an environment where refugees feel safe to share their experiences and seek help.

  
  

Addressing Social Determinants of Health:

• Forced displacement often exacerbates social determinants of health, such as access to education, employment, and housing. An anti-oppressive approach considers these broader social factors and advocates for systemic changes to improve the overall well-being of displaced populations.

  
  

Promoting Social Justice:

• An anti-oppressive approach is inherently linked to social justice. By actively working against oppressive structures and advocating for equitable policies and practices, it contributes to creating a more just and inclusive society for forcibly displaced populations.

This group design inherently embeds an anti-oppressive approach by recognizing the impact of forced displacement on mental health and advocating for the restoration of human rights. The MBTR-R intervention is designed to be socio-culturally adapted, ensuring inclusivity and respect for diverse experiences.

The purpose of this group is to provide a safe space for these individuals to meet and connect while being inclusive of the group's needs as it evolves.

The following design includes the identification of the potential needs, challenges, and strengths of the group.

This group design includes the use of a face-to-face support group to foster mutual aid, but the information and resources provided can be used as an outline for other group types as required.

Forming Phase:

• Establish a safe and welcoming space. Facilitators do this by opening with some icebreaker activities in hopes of building connections among participants.

• Facilitators should acknowledge shared experiences to foster a sense of community.

  
  

Norming Phase:

• Facilitators will introduce mindfulness and compassion-based practices.

• Facilitators will encourage participants to share their stories and reflections.

• Participants will be norming with other consistent participants, as new members or members not returning will impact overall group dynamics.

• Facilitators must be mindful of the types of subgroups forming within the group. Subgroups occur naturally in groups, however they have the potential to negatively impact the group dynamic if "the attraction of members within a subgroup becomes greater than their attraction to the group as a whole" (Toseland, R., & Rivas, R., 2017).

Performing Phase:

• Facilitators will implement trauma-sensitive activities such as participants writing and sharing affirmations about one another.

• Facilitators will invite participants to explore coping mechanisms and resilience-building strategies.

• Participants have formed a strong sense of connection

CASW (2005). Guidelines for Ethical Practice. Canadian Association of Social Workers. https://www.casw-acts.ca/files/attachements/casw_guidelines_for_ethical_practice.pdf

CCMI (2023). Foundations of Motivational Interviewing: Participant Workbook. Centre for Collaboration Motivation & Innovation.

Cénat, J., Darious, W., Noorishad, P.-G., McIntee, S.-E., Dromer, E., Mukunzi, J., Solola, O., & Williams, M. (2022). War in Ukraine and Racism: The Physical and Mental Health of Refugees of Color Matters. PubMed Central. https://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ezproxy.viu.ca/pmc/articles/PMC9091168/

Gartley, T., & Due, C. (2016). The interpreter is not an invisible being: A thematic analysis of the ... Taylor & Francis Online. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1111/ap.12181

Greenaway, C., Fabreau, G., & Pottie, K. (2022). The War in Ukraine and Refugee Health Care: Considerations for Health Care Providers in Canada. PubMed Central. https://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ezproxy.viu.ca/pmc/articles/PMC9328477/

Encyclopedia Of Ukraine. https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/default.asp Ministry of Municipal Affairs.

Lindsay, T., & Ortan, S. (2014). Groupwork practice in social work (3rd ed.) Sage.

Lysnyk, K. (2023). Conducting Psychological Support Groups Online During the War in Ukraine. 

https://www-tandfonline-com.ezproxy.viu.ca/doi/full/10.1080/14779757.2023.2167735

Muskrat, B., Greenblatt, A., Garvin, C., Pelech, W., Cohen, C., Macgowan, M., & Roy, V. (2020). Group workers' experience of mutual aid: Stories from the field. Social Work with Groups (New York. 1978), 43(3), 241-256. https://www.-tandfonline-com.ezproxy.viu.ca/doi/full/10.1080/01609513.2019.1571470

Mullaly, R. P., & West, J. (2018). Challenging oppression and confronting privilege a critical social work approach to anti-oppressive and anti-privilege theory and practice (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Oviedo, L., Seryczyńska, B., Torralba, J., Roszak, P., Angel, J. D., Vyshynska, O., Muzychuk, I., & Churpita, S. (2022). Coping and Resilience Strategies among Ukraine War Refugees. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9602814/ 

Parasram, A., & Khasnabish, A., (2022). Frequently Asked White Questions. Fernwood Publishing.IEU Team. (2023).

Schmid, J. (2023). Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) in Groups. VIULearn.

Toseland, R., & Rivas, R., (2017). An introduction to group work practice (8th ed.) Pearson.

Ukraine Support Project. The Pocket Project. (2023, October 7). https://pocketproject.org/ukraine-support-project/

Welcoming Ukraine. Province of British Columbia. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/tourism-immigration/ukraine/welcome 

YWCA support group for Ukrainian Refugee Mothers. YWCA Metro Vancouver. (2022, May 27). https://ywcavan.org/ukrainian-moms