Heuristic Inquiry: A Personal Journey of Acculturation and Identity Reconstruction

Heuristic methodology attempts to discover the nature and meaning of phenomenon through internal self-search, exploration, and discovery. Heuristic methodology encourages the researcher to explore and pursue the creative journey that begins inside one\u27s being and ultimately uncovers its direction and meaning through internal discovery (Douglass & Moustakas, 1985). The purpose of this paper is to familiarize readers with using heuristic methodology in research. I (Ivana) share my personal notes of how I decided to use heuristic methodology in my research. In the discussion, I address the nature of heuristic methodology, including its limitations. Finally, I present excerpts from a creative synthesis in the form of three letters to illuminate the final self-reflections about the results of my research

Interrupted Journeys: The Experiences of Refugee Women in Counselling

Although the mental health of refugees has been a focus of researchers for some time now, refugee transitions and refugee counselling are underrepresented and often neglected topics in the counselling literature in Canada. The practice of multicultural therapy with refugees continues to focus on a medical model and psychological issues that refugees face in pre-, trans-, and post –resettlement contexts. Within the current landscape of refugee counselling, very little research exists about refugees’ counselling needs as conceptualized from refugees’ perspective. This heuristic inquiry explored the stories of 6 refugees and their experiences of counselling in Canada. Based on the stories of the 6 co-researchers, 4 main categories emerged: (a) counselling process, (b) counsellor factors, (c) therapeutic relationship, and (d) client outcomes. Contributions to the academic and professional literature are highlighted. Implications and recommendations for future research and practice are identified and discussed. In response to the growing need to identify the effective counselling practices for refugees, this heuristic research focused on exploring the refugees’ lived experiences of counselling. This research also focused on capturing refugees’ voices about the factors that contribute to successful/unsuccessful counselling engagement and outcomes. It aimed to increase understanding of how refugees’ pre-, trans-, and post-migration experiences influence their resettlement and adaptation, and subsequent counselling needs. Keywords: refugees, refugee resettlement, refugee counselling, refugee therap

The acculturation of former Yugoslavian refugees

Bibliography: p. 237-24

The Acculturation of Former Yugoslavian Refugees

Although the displacement of people from their home countries is of growing concern, little attention has been paid to refugees in the counselling literature. Experiences of refugees are more complex and difficult than those of voluntary immigrants because refugees are typically pushed out of their countries. Using heuristic inquiry, four main categories of themes characterized acculturation and identity reconstruction experiences for six individuals from the former Yugoslavia. These categories suggest that the acculturation and identity reconstruction are multifaceted and lifelong processes for refugees. Suggestions for counselling personnel who work with refugees are discussed.Même si le déplacement forcé des gens de leur pays nataux suscite de plus en plus d’inquiétude, très peu d’attention a été accordé aux réfugiés dans la littérature sur le counseling. Les expériences des réfugiés sont beaucoup plus compliquées et difficiles que ceux des immigrants volontaires, parce que les réfugiés sont généralement forcé de quitter leur pays. En utilisant une investigation heuristique, quatre catégories principales de thèmes ont caractérisé l’acculturation et les expériences de reconstruction d’identité pour six individus de l’ancienne Yougoslavie. Ces catégories suggèrent que l’acculturation et la reconstruction d’identité sont des processus à multiples facettes qui durent toute la vie d’un réfugié. Des suggestions pour les conseillers qui travaillent avec les réfugiés sont discutées