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LITERATURE REVIEW FOR PROGRAM INTEREST

Literature Review: A Deeper Look into a Rising Problem

The United States has always been having issues with immigration and its policies.

Regardless of the fact, people will always find a way to come to the land of the free and that

can be a traumatizing experience to say the least. Immigration can cause a variety of problems

ranging from psychological to even physical. Seeking help from professionals has helped

individuals and families surpass their troubled memories and current issues with trying to be a

part of this country. In an article entitled, “A Child Who Sees Ghosts Every Night: Manifestations

of Psychosocial and Familial Stress Following Immigration,” it has many statements that

highlight my concern. This article is a case study demonstrating how a move to a different

country can affect a child in their psychological development. It consists of a family of 3; a

mother, father, and 10-year-old Joey that migrated from China when he was 6. He began to see

ghosts at night after the move and seemed unhappier than before. This reading demonstrated

session by session how there are benefits to seeking professional help. …watching his parents

fight because of the financial and social struggles of adjusting to life in a new country. These

stressors would put a psychological strain on any person, but for a child, as Joey pointed out

himself, there is the added dimension of not having control over these decisions. “The ghosts

that he saw could be viewed as an imaginative response to the inner struggles he was

experiencing. Children in early latency often create imaginary play figures for companionship

(Moore and Russ 2006). It is possible that Joey has engaged with magical thinking in response

to the stressors facing at home.” Using a family system-based method to help figure out the

underlying reason why Joey was experiencing hallucinations was the method used and worked.
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LITERATURE REVIEW FOR PROGRAM INTEREST

The next article is important for two reasons: It increases awareness of the struggles and

resilience of immigrant Mexican Americans. The reading brings the best of both struggle and

resilience from migrant families. It highlights the main struggles that families face, both adults

and children. What is different about this reading is that it also highlights the positives that can

come out of going through hardships. It is imperative for counselors to stay up to date with as

much multicultural competence as possible, so the best help can be provided. “Recently, there

has been a rise in anti-immigrant bills proposed and passed into law, which reinforces negative

beliefs that encourage discrimination, racial profiling, and hatred of our fellow neighbors and

Americans “(Ward & Ellis, 2017; Adler, 2015; Davis, 2017; Levine & Cooke, 2017; Jervis, 2017).

This fact is living proof that these issues are rising which means more people are getting

affected by the minute.

On the last article that I researched, it elaborates on the physical, emotional, and

psychological state of a women that have crossed to the United States. It goes into detail on a

structural way on how to help women in need using a specific model. “Bronfenbrenner’s (1979)

ecological model is a useful guide for creating and implementing culturally sensitive prevention

and intervention efforts across contexts (e.g., consultation, outreach, education, policy

development, and community advocacy).” All the difficult times that they face can have a

negative impact in their lives and can pass it on to their children. In Hispanic cultures, it is not

unusual for the mother to stay home and taking care of the children being their only focus.

Helping women can be a cycle of generations that can bring healthier lifestyles. People deal

with issues in different manners but having the same goal in mind can make a difference.
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References

Chavez, A., Moore, N., & McDowell, T. (2018). Mexican American Immigrant Parents
Striving to Raise Resilient Children: Obstacles, Tension Points, and Resiliency Factors. Journal of
Individual Psychology, 74(1), 4-19.
Fang, L., Lee, E., & Huang, F. (2013). A Child Who Sees Ghosts Every Night:
Manifestations of Psychosocial and Familial Stress Following Immigration. Culture, Medicine &
Psychiatry, 37(3), 549-564.
Yakushko, O., & Chronister, K. M. (2005). Immigrant Women and Counseling: The
Invisible Others. Journal of Counseling & Development, 83(3), 292-298.