Guerda Nicolas

Racism and Ethnoviolence as Trauma: Enhancing Professional Training

In trauma theory, research, and practice, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a syndrome of psychobiological reactions to events perceived as cataclysmic or life threatening, often has been the focus of mental health interventions and research. Yet virtually missing from contemporary trauma literature is consideration of racism and ethnoviolence as catalysts for PTSD and related symptoms.The stress inducing effects of obviously life threatening racist or ethnoviolent events may be readily apparent to service providers and researchers although they have not been treated or investigated. However, observers seem not to view other types of racism and ethnoviolence as life-threatening (e.g., vicarious experiences, exposure to microaggressions) because the historical roots of the trauma are invisible. Such events may arouse immediate or delayed PTSD and related symptoms in the experiencing person if the experienced event(s) serves as a catalyst for recalling previous personal memories or identity-group histories of extreme threat. Current PTSD assessment schedules are critiqued for their inappropriateness for assessing stress reactions to racism and ethnoviolence specifically; quantitative scales are criticized because of developers’ thoughtless application of traditional psychometric principles of scale development, such as maximizing the magnitude of internal consistency reliability coefficients. We recommend that researchers and practitioners conduct culturally responsive and racially informed assessment and interventions with African Americans, Latina/Latino Americans, Asian/Pacific Islander Americans, Native Americans, and related immigrant groups when they present with symptoms of trauma, particularly when their trauma responses are atypical or the precipitating stressor is ambiguous.

Racism and Ethnoviolence as Trauma Enhancing Professional and Research Training

In trauma theory, research, and practice, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a syndrome of psychobiological reactions to events perceived as cataclysmic or life threatening, often has been the ...

Educational Attainment of Haitian Immigrants

Educational attainment is often linked to upward mobility in the United States. As a result, current research has focused on the educational attainment of various racial groups, including Black Americans. However, few studies have examined the various ethnic and immigrant groups that comprise the Black population. To address this gap, the current article focuses on the educational attainment of Haitian immigrants (n = 150) living in the United States. Results indicate that socioeconomic status (SES) is a predictor of educational attainment but, contrary to previous research, gender and aspirations are unrelated. Implications for educators and policy makers are discussed.

Deconstructing the Portrayals of Haitian Women in the Media: A Thematic Analysis of Images in the Associated Press Photo Archive

Haitian women constitute a group that is lauded within Haiti as the “pillar of society” and yet is also often silenced both within Haiti and abroad. Given the role of the media in shaping attitudes and behaviors toward Women of Color, evaluation of media portrayals is critical to challenge oppressive discourses about these groups. Therefore, in this study, the authors conducted a thematic analysis of 650 photographs of Haitian women in the Associated Press Photo Archive in the years 1994–2009. The analysis comprised a two-step process: First, the authors identified coding categories through an inductive analysis of the data; later, these categories were analyzed from a feminist poststructuralist framework to generate themes that could describe how Haitian women are positioned in relation to media consumers. The three themes generated—“Negotiating Power and Resistance,” “Enacting Haitian Culture,” and “Showcasing Affliction”—delineate the media’s tendency to emphasize the “otherness” in Haitian women, as well as to characterize this group as victims in need of rescuing by powerful others. The authors conclude by emphasizing the impact of these images on the identity of Haitian women and Women of Color, as well as on the attitudes and behaviors of media consumers toward these groups.

Does one trauma fit all? Exploring the relevance of PTSD across cultures

The wide reach and devastation of recent natural disasters and other traumatic events provides an opportunity to revisit the conceptualization of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Currently, the majority of PTSD research focuses on the aftermath of isolated, single events for individuals, or time-limited trauma episodes (e.g., child abuse). This paper explores classification of traumatic experiences that questions the notion of the ‘post-’ in PTSD. Moreover, the authors focus on placing trauma in a cultural and social context, including an historical perspective and current responses to trauma across the world. Discussion and recommendations concern the role of mental health providers in the face of disasters and other traumatic events across the globe, with a specific consciousness of contexts in which a ‘post-’ is not applicable.

Impacts of the 2010 Haitian Earthquake in the Diaspora: Findings from Little Haiti, Miami, FL

In January 2010, a massive earthquake struck Haiti resulting in unprecedented damage. Little attention, however, has focused on the earthquake’s mental health impact in the Haitian diaspora community. As part of an established community-based participatory research initiative in Little Haiti, the predominately Haitian neighborhood in Miami, FL, USA, community health workers conducted surveys with neighborhood residents about earthquake-related losses, coping strategies, and depressive/traumatic symptomology. Findings reveal the earthquake strongly impacted the diaspora community and highlights prominent coping strategies. Following the earthquake, only a small percentage of participants self-reported engaging in any negative health behaviors. Instead, a majority relied on their social networks for support. This study contributes to the discourse on designing culturally-responsive mental health initiatives for the Haitian diaspora and the ability of existing community-academic partnerships to rapidly adapt to community needs.

Mental Health Counseling in Haiti: Historical Overview, Current Status, and Plans for the Future

Since the devastating earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, all eyes have been on Haiti. In particular, with the influx of foreign psychological and psychosocial efforts, the country’s mental health infrastructure has been under scrutiny. In the context of a strong familial, community, and religious social fabric, the field of formal mental health services, including counseling, is not as strongly developed as in the United States, or other Westernized countries. In the wake of the earthquake, however, service providers in Haiti within the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and social work are moving toward increased organization and structural cohesiveness. This report provides an overview of historical foundations, current context, and future implications surrounding the state of counseling in Haiti.

Pathways to Understand Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Haitians

The earthquake in Haiti led to an outpouring of outreach from groups of the Haitian international community as well as to residents of the island. Thus, an understanding of the help-seeking behavior patterns of this group is necessary to make meaning of their receptivity of assistance in a time of need. This paper summarizes help-seeking behavior patterns of 150 Haitian immigrants residing in the US. The results indicate that, overall, this sample was more likely to go to their family for assistance, regardless of the nature of the problem. In contrast, they were least likely to go to professionals for help, even when in need of emotional assistance. Given the increased rate of Haitians living outside of Haiti and around the world, a more comprehensive understanding of their mental health needs, coping patterns, and barriers to seeking help from mental health professionals is warranted.

Adjusting to Life in the United States: Therapy with Haitian Immigrant Women

This article examines the relationship between acculturative stress and depressive symptoms among Haitian immigrant generation women in the United States. Using a sample of 79 Haiti-born women, this article explores the use of measures of acculturative stress and depressive symptoms with this population. Recommendations highlight methods for integrating assessment, therapeutic approach and the clients background when making decisions about treatment as well as other areas of which the therapist may need to be aware when providing culturally appropriate therapy to Haitian women.

Regional conferences—A capacity‐building mandate: Report on CRCP2011—Building Bridges and Building a Regional Structure

The Caribbean Regional Conference of Psychology was held in Nassau, The Bahamas, from 15 to 18 November 2011, under the auspices of the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), and the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP). The conference was hosted by the Bahamas Psychological Association, and organized by a committee chaired by Dr Ava Thompson, College of the Bahamas. The CRCP2011 attracted over 400 participants from 37 countries, including 20 nations/territories in the Caribbean. A broad scientific program, organized around six conference themes, addressed strengths and challenges to psychology in the region; the current state of psychological research, assessment, and intervention; historical, cultural, and language influences; and links between Caribbean and global models. Conference outcomes included planning for a series of publications to expand on conference themes and presentations, as well as establishment of a steering group to launch a regional organization to support the science and practice of psychology in the Caribbean.