Voices Heard: How Counselling Prepares Refugees for Their Hearings
Preparing for a refugee hearing is not just about documents, timelines, and legal arguments. It is also about you being emotionally ready to tell your story. Often for the first time, to strangers, under pressure, while reliving deeply painful experiences that you would not otherwise share with anyone.
At Family-Therapy, we see firsthand how overwhelming the refugee hearing process can be.
Many refugee claimants worry:
- What if I forget something important?
- What if I become emotional or shut down during my hearing?
- What if my story doesn’t come out “right”?
- What if I freeze or get stuck?
These fears are common and understandable. We know how hard it is to talk about traumatic experiences.
Why Counselling Matters in the Refugee Process
Trauma affects memory, language, and your ability to speak clearly while under stress. Experiences such as war, domestic violence, sexual abuse, political persecution, or forced displacement are not stored in the brain like ordinary memories. They are often fragmented, non-linear, and difficult to put into words.
Counselling is not about coaching or rehearsing testimony.
It is about helping you:
- Understand how trauma impacts their memory and their ability to disclose horrific experiences
- Feel safer speaking about painful experiences
- Reduce your anxiety, dissociation, and emotional flooding
- Develop grounding tools for stressful hearings
- Building your confidence so you can speak in you own voice and clearly talk about your narrative
When people feel emotionally supported, they are better able to communicate clearly, consistently, and authentically.
About the Workshop: Voices Heard
Voices Heard: How Counselling Prepares Refugees for Their Hearings is an educational session designed for refugee claimants, community members, and professionals who support refugee claimants.
In this talk, we will explore:
- Why important details are sometimes missing from initial refugee narratives
- How trauma, fear, culture, and shame impact disclosure
- The role of counselling before, during, and after the refugee hearing
- How emotional preparation supports credibility and well-being
- Common myths about counselling
This session is offered in a safe, respectful, and accessible way, without legal jargon and without pressure to share personal details.
Who Should Attend
- Refugee claimants at any stage of the process
- Individuals waiting for a hearing
- Those who have already had a hearing and are feeling overwhelmed as they wait for their refugee board decision or who need to do a judicial appeal or H and C application
- Community workers and settlement staff
- Anyone supporting refugees emotionally or professionally
Event Details
Date: January 22, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Speaker: Nataxja Cini, MSW, RSW
Hosted by: Family-Therapy
Registration is required. Please use the QR code on the poster or contact us directly for assistance.
For more information: 613-287-3799
Website: www.family-therapy.ca
Your story matters.
Your experiences matter.
You do not have to navigate this process alone.
Counselling can help ensure that your voice is heard with clarity, dignity, and care.
We look forward to welcoming you.
