Havering Asylum Seeker and Refugee Psychology Service (HavASR)
Havering Asylum Seeker and Refugee Psychology Service
The Havering Asylum Seeker and Refugee Psychology Service (HavASR) is a specialist trauma-informed psychology service that supports the emotional wellbeing of Refugees and Asylum-seeking children, adults and families in the Havering area. Our work is based on the values of Community Psychology and principles of Trauma Informed Practice. This means that we want to help people and also challenge unfair systems by collaborating with local communities, strengthening the relevant community and voluntary services in the local area, and promoting fairer access to psychological support. We offer specialist psychological assessment and intervention for refugee and asylum-seeking people, whilst also building the capacity of systems around individuals through consultation, training and partnership.
Our team holds specialist knowledge in working with survivors of multiple traumas, including torture, trafficking, childhood abuse, domestic violence, and forced displacement. Our service is committed to working across cultures and standing alongside people affected by marginalisation and displacement.
Consultation and Community Development Support
A key aspect of our work is with partnership agencies (including mainstream mental health services) and non-statutory organisations, which involves supporting and upskilling those working closely with asylum seekers and refugees in the community through consultation and training. Organisations may include but is not limited to schools, social workers, housing and voluntary sector organisations. If you would like to access this aspect of our service for your organisation, please contact us so that we can tailor our support to your needs.
We're currently offering a regular coffee afternoon, 'Brewing Connections', where you can meet our team who can offer mental health advice and guidance. This is every Tuesday 12pm -1:30pm at the Hope Café, 80-84 Market Place, Romford RM1 3ER.
Direct therapeutic interventions
We also recognise that Refugee and Asylum seekers may need specialist mental health support which mainstream NHS services, such as Talking Therapies and Psychological professions within the Mental Health and Wellness Teams (MHWT) and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) already offer. In the first instance, we always encourage consideration of a referral to mainstream mental health services to reduce the risk of further marginalising this community. However, we appreciate that for this client group, a more specialist service is required at times; therefore, we also offer a direct therapy service which provides individual and group psychological intervention for asylum seekers and refugees of all ages, who have complex mental health problems in the context of forced migration.
Regarding the direct psychological assessment and intervention offer, we work confidentially, and see people on an appointment basis only, typically at Romford Town Hall Appointment Centre, but can utilise other community spaces as required. The therapeutic work may also involve working with the wider system such as community and other statutory services, as appropriate. The therapy aspect of the service can address significant and complex trauma-related mental health problems such as:
- Emotional or behavioural difficulties that meet the criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which can include:
o severe low mood
o nightmares and flashbacks
o anxiety, fear and numbness or dissociation
- Depression (severe and enduring low mood significantly impacting on functioning)
- Severe relational difficulties impacting on significant relationships
- Behaviours that are challenging, that are related to trauma, which can include:
o Regression in behaviours e.g. bedwetting
o Getting into fights
o Disrupted engagement in meaningful activities/play