The forced displacement of people, known as refugees or involuntary immigrants, is one of the phenomena related to political and social conflicts, wars and natural catastrophes. These unplanned and often undesired departures are often followed by psychological suffering directly related to the losses and to the trauma to which they have been exposed before and after the migration. Those difficulties can be represented by bureaucratic barriers, obstacles to the reconstruction of a professional and family life, communication difficulties, cultural differences, family roles' inversions and so on. This article's main goal is to present observations made at the Service of Specialized Psychological Attention for Immigrants and Refugees (Sapsir), at the Laval University, Québec, Canada. The clinical work developed with people from more than 40 nationalities has made it possible to highlight psychopathological symptoms more often observed, and establish critical periods in the adaptation process which tend to expose such people to a higher psychological vulnerability. These observations allow us to design policies for sheltering and (health and social) attention for refugees, making it possible to prevent a more serious psychic suffering and, consequently, to contribute for a better adaptation and integration.
Intercultural Psychology; Cultural Psychology; Refugees