Exploring immigration-related anxiety through Somatic Therapy and Internal Family System
Exploring immigration-related anxiety through Somatic Therapy and Internal Family System
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Issue Date
2025-11
Authors
Soleimanipari, Nazie
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Abstract
This capstone project looks at immigration-related anxiety through the lens of Somatic Therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS). It examines the role of cultural trauma, employment insecurity, language barriers and housing insecurity in the contributions to anxiety and emotional dysregulation in immigrants. There are many therapies available which target cognitive aspects of the anxious state, however they do not address the somatic and identity-related issues that are relevant for this population. To address these voids, the Somatic-IFS Immigrant Anxiety Support Framework is proposed. This framework combines somatic regulation, internal parts work, and community ties. In this framework, the role of the counsellor is to act as a facilitator and a cultural bridge between the clients and the world of counselling, specifically incorporating trauma-informed and culturally relevant methods. The research established that immigrant anxiety must not be considered in a vacuum, and can't be divorced from systemic inequities or the cultural context. This thesis emphasizes the need for integrated therapeutic techniques which honor both body and identity. It also demands further research on the development of holistic, culturally relevant techniques in "tending to the mental health of the immigranthood."
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Keywords
immigration , anxiety , Somatic Therapy , Internal Family Systems , counselling , cultural trauma , embodiment
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States , openAccess