Search

Introduction: Health inequalities represent a major challenge in contemporary medicine, with some attributed to racial biases. Recently, in the United States, a call to combat discrimination in the field of health has resonated, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, in which minorities have been disproportionately affected. These calls echo recommendations from the Institute of Medicine dating back to 2001, urging the fight against inequalities in access to health care. In France, inequalities based on presumed origin persist, yet medical education on these issues is virtually nonexistent., Materials and Methods: We conducted a scoping review literature review in accordance with the JBI recommendations for scoping review writing and applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist to explore existing conceptual and educational data on racial biases in medicine. The inclusion criteria were interventional studies or evaluations of existing educational programs in medical training addressing the fight against racial biases in clinical settings published in French or English between 2003 and 2023. Six databases were systematically consulted., Results: Out of 748 initial studies, 28 were included in our study. The median number of participants in the studies was low, interventions were diverse, and participants were generally well received, most of whom were self-selected. No study has evaluated the clinical impact of these interventions. The highlighted concepts included levels of racism, cultural competence, cultural humility, and critical race theory., Discussion: The authors most frequently referred to institutionalized racism, demonstrating the systemic nature of these issues. At an individual level, implicit and unconscious biases were most often emphasized. It appears that the concept of "race" is a sociopolitical construct without supporting biological determinants. Humility is central to this field of study, as it encourages questioning of individual or collective medical practices. In France, the context, including the prohibition of ethnic statistics, may hinder the objectification of discrimination. Immersion and virtual patient scenarios emerged as potential solutions for evaluating the clinical impact of interventions. A more horizontal medical pedagogy seems better suited to teach these sensitive issues., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A qualitative study was carried out with five professionals in a pediatric intensive care unit in 2022. Semi-structured interviews were used to find out how they felt about patients from their own culture, and about the role of their mother tongue in hospital care. Caregivers find it difficult to bring their own culture to the fore when caring for their patients. A description of the obstacles they encounter, as well as the advantages, is included., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

In France, pregnant women or women with children under the age of 18 months, and in exceptional cases 24 months, can serve their prison sentences in specially equipped nurseries or mother-child cells. This situation is likely to have a negative impact on the child's health, and on the quality of the bond with the mother over the longer or shorter term. The benefits of maintaining this bond are indisputable, whatever the setting. Improvements to this system could be considered and implemented., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Migrant youth are vulnerable and face a risk of internalised disorders such as depression. This qualitative meta-synthesis explores migrant adolescents' experience of depression. 14 studies (7 qualitative studies and 7 case reports) were selected after a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus and PsycInfo. Their quality was assessed with the Critical Appraisal Tool (CASP) for qualitative studies and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist for case reports. The analysis identified six themes describing the experience of depression among migrant adolescents: (1) the vulnerability factors underlying depressive distress, before, during and after migration; (2) the subjective experience of depression, combining symptoms associated with a form of depression common in the West with symptoms more common in other cultures; (3) two types of aetiological hypotheses to make sense of their distress; (4) attitudes adopted in response to distress; (5) experience of care, especially reasons discouraging investment in care; and (6) impairment of identity construction by breaks in cultural transmission and intergenerational conflicts. The threat of losing their connections both at the interpersonal (connection to family, peers and community) and intrapsychic levels (construction of identity) is inherently linked to migrant adolescents' experience of depression. We propose to adapt Brandenberger's 3C model (communication, continuity of care, and confidence) for the care of young migrants to promote a therapeutic alliance, foster construction of a coherent bicultural identity, and support the family., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.)

Introduction: Parents whom adolescents disclose sexual abuse face both a personal traumatic experience, and the need to support their child who is going through a grueling period and needs them. Many quantitative studies exploring the psychological impact of disclosure on parents have been conducted, but few have used qualitative methods. The objective of this study is to explore parents' experiences of their adolescent's disclosure of sexual abuse during psychiatric care, identify the possible beneficial factors and shortcomings, share this knowledge, and improve interventions for these families., Methods: We conducted semi structured interviews with parents whose children disclosed sexual abuse during their psychiatric care in Paris and analyzed these interviews using a phenomenological framework (interpretative phenomenological analysis)., Results: This study analyzed 13 semi structured interviews of 9 mothers and 4 fathers whose children were then aged 14 to 17 years. Qualitative analysis uncovered three themes: (1) Parents: alerts and search for support; (2) Between parents and adolescents: a disruption in relationships linked to the disclosure and its legal consequences; (3) Disclosure at the family level: the possible reactivation of a traumatic past and the search for a new equilibrium., Conclusions: Considering the parental experience is essential in caring for adolescent patients after they disclose sexual abuse. The need for parental or family psychological support should be systematically assessed. Possible resurgence of parental trauma requires psychiatrists' careful consideration., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Intimate partner violence occurring during pregnancy has a similar prevalence as usual obstetrical disorders that are routinely screened for. Referenced publications insist on the importance of adequate screening, but the proper course of action has yet to be defined., Aim of Study: We qualitatively explored the different resources and concepts that emerge from the discourse of maternity staff across professions., Material and Methods: We led a semi structured interview with professionals, which included following their involvement with preselected patients. Nine professionals provided a sample of 19 interviews. The data was analysed using IPA methodology. Results We highlight the investigative importance of navigating the patient's initial demand or lack thereof and the baby's importance within, while identifying mechanisms of maternal disqualification. Creating an atmosphere prone to patient empowerment was the final theme to emerge from the study as the most beneficial tactic both in the short and long term., Conclusions: HCPs need to enable patients' trust on a personal and an institutional level, as well as empowering the patient in the moment and respecting their values and choices. HCPs also convey the stability of the institution that has become a reference of refuge and assistance for patients from their pregnancy onwards.

Introduction: Functional neurological symptom disorder (FNSD) is a common diagnosis among adolescents. However, we feel it is a difficult diagnosis to assess because of the diversity of its clinical manifestations, the rapid changes in its nosography over the years, and its common imbrication with established somatic diagnoses. We would like to illustrate this hypothesis through a case presentation and the original diagnostic process that emerged from it., Methods: We chose to present our diagnosis approach through the case of an 11-year-old boy who showed a progressive loss of motor and sensory function to the point of total dependency, and then suddenly switched between this state and a "normal" physical presentation, while deliriously claiming to be an angel., Results: All possible infectious, autoimmune, metabolic, and toxic disorders were ruled out. After the successive therapeutic failures of antidepressants and neuroleptics, FNSD was diagnosed., Conclusion: The DSM-5-TR classification was insufficient to explain the full clinical picture and a complementary approach (biblical, psychoanalytical, and historical) was used to analyze the cause of this atypical presentation.

Borderline personality disorders account for 50% of adolescent hospitalization cases in psychiatry. The severity and psychopathological complexity of these symptoms indicate the need for inclusive models of understanding. Adopting a holistic approach allows for the consideration of not only the patient's environment, but also their position within that environment and their life history. In this article, a model based on the concept of therapeutic containment at three levels is presented. Global containment refers to the mindset and organization of the institution that provides care, which is itself a part of society at a specific time. Local containment focuses on understanding and therapeutic interventions within the immediate social environment of the individual. Lastly, individual containment encompasses the development of independent processes during the course of care. These three levels are integrated in the hospital treatment of borderline personality disorders, forming a trans-theoretical approach., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Robin, Bellone, Belbèze, Kazemian, Radjack and Corcos.)

In France, women can be incarcerated during pregnancy and can keep their babies with them in prison up to the age of 18 months. The small number of nurseries in France and their unequal geographic distribution as well as the high percentage of foreign prisoners often result in women's isolation from their usual cultural environment. Family members and cultural community play a crucial role in the process of mothering. The aim of this study is to explore through these mothers' narratives how they experience the cultural aspects of this process in the prison environment. We conducted semi-structured interviews to collect the experience of 25 mothers and 5 pregnant women in 13 different prison nurseries in France and used interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore the data. Four different themes emerged: prison: repression of cultural practices, prison: a culture of its own, loss of traditional culture, and cultural hybridization. The specific environmental architecture and operating rules in prison nurseries may induce acute repression regarding cultural ways of mothering. Considering both cultural permeability specific to the peripartum period during which women tend to more easily embrace cultural aspects from their environment, and family distance which restrains cultural transmission, these mothers gather multiple factors of vulnerability for full prisonization, as a form of forced assimilation to prison culture. But a sort of specific hybrid prison culture around motherhood seems to emerge instead, in a process similar to creolization., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The international literature review highlights higher neonatal morbimortality in migrant patients and their babies. The explanatory hypotheses include late pregnancy follow-up with difficulty accessing care, language barriers, and different cultural representation in pregnancy support. On the one hand, we propose to explain the cultural factors that can impact the caring relationship during the perinatal period. On the other hand, we set out tools for anthropological and psychological understanding to enhance the sharing of cultural representations around pregnancy follow-up, the needs of a baby, and obstetrical or postnatal complications. The request for a specialised transcultural opinion needs to be more systematic; the transcultural posture is adaptable to each care professional. This requires the professional to address explicitly the impact of culture in care and consider their own cultural distance. Specialised advice is recommended in certain situations of cumulative vulnerability (complex trauma, perinatal depression with cultural coding of symptoms), blockage or refusal of care for cultural reasons and to avoid cultural misunderstandings. We detail two modalities: mediation and a discussion group around cultural issues set up in the maternity ward. The institutional work we propose within the multidisciplinary team in the maternity ward also allows the acquisition of transcultural competencies., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Migrant women face an increased risk of adverse obstetrical outcome and Caesarean section. The psychological experience of Caesarean section combines physiological, social, and cultural dimensions. This qualitative study explores the subjective experiences of first-generation migrant women who gave birth by Caesarean section., Methods: Seven qualitative, semi-directed interviews were conducted from January to March 2022 in a Paris maternity hospital, with women in their postpartum period who had had a scheduled or emergency Caesarean section and straightforward obstetrical outcomes. The presence of an interpreter-mediator was systematically offered. Thematic analysis of the interviews was carried out following the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology., Results: Four themes were identified in the thematic analysis relating to the women's experiences of Caesarean section: (1) The shock of the intervention combines disappointment, fear and early separation from the baby, (2) Pregnancy and delivery far from one's family aggravates the psychological suffering caused by isolation and loneliness related to migration, (3) The lack of cultural representations of Caesarean section leads to negative preconceptions and hinders mental preparation, in contrast with traditional or medicalised childbirth, and (4) The women's experiences of the medical follow-up highlights the importance of the continuity of care., Discussion and Conclusion: Caesarean section, which is a physical break, re-enacts the symbolic break (cultural, social, familial) that follows on from emigration. Improvements in care include the need for a better preparation for Caesarean section, active efforts for care continuity, and the development of early prevention interviews and groups in maternity units., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The handling editor BG declared a shared affiliation with the authors at the time of review., (Copyright © 2023 Rodriguez, Moro and Radjack.)

Context: Transcultural skills are especially useful for those involved in the perinatal period, when parents and babies must adapt to one another in a setting of migration a long a focus of transcultural clinical practice., Objective: The aim of this article is to provide useful transcultural skills for any health care worker (e.g., psychologists, child psychiatrists, midwives, family doctors, pediatricians, specialized child-care attendants, and social workers) who provide care or support to families during the perinatal period. It highlights the cultural aspects requiring attention in relation to representations of pregnancy, children's needs, obstetric complications, and postnatal problems. Taking into account the impact of culture on clinical evaluation and treatment can enable professionals to distinguish what involves cultural representations of pregnancy, babies, and sometimes of disease from what is associated with interaction disorders or maternal psychopathology., Methods: After explaining the relevance of transcultural clinical practices to provide migrant mothers with better support, we describe 9 themes useful to explore from a transcultural perspective. This choice is based on the transcultural clinical practice in our specialized department., Results: The description of these 9 themes is intended to aid in their pragmatic application and is illustrated with short clinical vignettes for specific concepts. We describe situations that are extreme but often encountered in liaison transcultural clinical practice for maternity wards: perinatal mourning with cultural coding, mediation in refusal of care, cultural misunderstandings, situations of complex trauma and of multiple contextual vulnerabilities, and difficulties associated with acculturation., Discussion: The transcultural levers described here make it possible to limit cultural misunderstandings and to promote the therapeutic alliance. It presupposes the professionals will concomitantly analyze their cultural countertransference and acquire both the knowledge and know-how needed to understand the elements of cultural, political, and social issues needed to develop clinical finesse., Conclusion: This combined theoretical-clinical article is intended to be pedagogical. It provides guidelines for conducting transcultural child psychiatry/psychological interviews in the perinatal period aimed at both assessment and therapy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Radjack, Bossuroy, Camara, Touhami, Ogrizek, Rodriguez, Robin and Moro.)

Background: Unaccompanied refugee minors-or unaccompanied minors-are children and adolescents who have been separated from parents and other relatives and are not being cared for by an adult. Unaccompanied minors are a vulnerable population, with numerous stressors and complex psychiatric symptoms necessitating specialized mental health care. This study explores patients' experiences of a Multimodal Co-Therapy for Unaccompanied Minors (MUCTUM), which encompasses cultural, biological, narrative & institutional approaches to care., Methods: MUCTUM is a co-therapy program for unaccompanied minors, with a psychiatrist, psychologist, native-language interpreter, and caseworker for each patient. In this qualitative study, we interviewed adolescents about their experiences with MUCTUM and analyzed these semi-structured interviews using a phenomenological framework (Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis)., Results: Qualitative analysis of 16 interviews discovered that unaccompanied minors felt misunderstood before participating in MUCTUM, describing a sense of strangeness and loneliness in relation to psychiatric symptoms. Several youths experienced triple stigmatization: of being unaccompanied minors, of suffering from psychotrauma, and of being mental health patients. We further describe three overarching domains that inform on MUCTUM support to unaccompanied minors: (1) A safe space for unaccompanied minors; (2) Helpful interventions during therapy; and (3) Narrating one's story can "set us free" if guided carefully by care providers., Conclusion: This study suggests that MUCTUM therapy may efficiently support unaccompanied minors' mental health by acknowledging their hierarchy of needs. Psychotherapeutic strategies include creating a safe place, providing culturally appropriate care and patient-centered therapy, addressing concrete problems, supporting relationships, and making use of limited reparenting in therapy. Delayed and progressive inquiry about traumatic events may be beneficial. Replication of these findings and their field application is warranted., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The Covid-19 health crisis has raised many questions about pregnancy care, the experience of confinement measures, and the increase in inequalities in access to care according to migratory status. The situation of a young French-Malian mother raises questions about the experience of motherhood in this particular pandemic context. In particular, questions are raised about the socio-cultural representations of care and illness., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Medical termination of pregnancy when decided for maternal psychosocial distress is a new issue facing maternity field teams. Multidisciplinary work is required, as well as respect for the patients' temporality. The decision is collegial, estimating the least traumatic impact possible for them over the long term. The ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence guide the work of the team and the evaluation of the psychiatrist in this context., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Teenage pregnancy remains a major public health problem worldwide. They present somatic, psychological, developmental and socioeconomic risks and consequences for adolescents and their unborn children. A review of the international scientific literature exploring the psychosocial factors of vulnerability at each stage of pregnancy shows that sustainable, multidisciplinary and culturally appropriate support is necessary., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

From her six years of experience as a social worker at the Maison des adolescents de l'hôpital Cochin in Paris, Irène Jarry has developed the know-how to help caregivers report and support adolescents and their families. In recent years, the care team has reported a steady increase in disclosures of sexual abuse. Irène Jarry provides us with tools to best accompany these young people, while taking into account the traumatic context and its consequences, before reminding us of the useful foundations for any professional., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

During adolescence, hospitalization, which accompanies the process of separation and individuation, is a time for self-reflection. Within the framework of the weekly discussion group for young people hospitalized at the Maison de Solenn-Maison des adolescents of the Cochin Hospital in Paris, the latter were able, thanks to group containment and its dynamics, to think about their care and to take an active part in it., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The management of patients suffering from anorexia nervosa involves the intervention of several professionals in a complementary manner. Within the framework of the multidisciplinary approach (somatic, psychiatric, dietetic, family, etc.), several factors must be taken into account in the clinical evolution to establish the indication of an individual psychotherapy in the most efficient way possible., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

The treatment of patients suffering from bulimic disorders requires a multidisciplinary approach combining a somatic approach and a psychiatric approach. The Maison des adolescents of the Cochin Hospital offers a therapeutic education program focused on the management of compulsive binge eating. Its modalities have been modified over the years in order to better adjust to the needs of these patients. Monthly discussion groups have been added to the individual interviews, and have been key points in structuring the treatment., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Adolescence is a particular period during which certain buried sufferings can awaken. Psychosomatic pain represents a significant number of the complaints made by adolescents in pediatric services. In these cases, a multidisciplinary care will be proposed to the young person, in order to help him to recognize and to elaborate his psychic suffering, but also to understand what is hidden under the somatic complaints having no organic etiology., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

The Maison des adolescents of the Cochin Hospital in Paris is a multidisciplinary structure with a transcultural sensitivity. It welcomes young people, but also their families, and take into account their unique backgrounds. From the reception of the adolescent by the consultation nurse to the implementation of specific care in a transcultural group, the care pathway sometimes requires the mother-adolescent dyad to be carried along in order to achieve an appeasement of the sufferings of each., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: There is a lack of empirical evidence on the level of cultural adaptation required for psychological interventions developed in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) societies to be effective for the treatment of common mental disorders among culturally and ethnically diverse groups. This lack of evidence is partly due to insufficient documentation of cultural adaptation in psychological trials. Standardised documentation is needed in order to enhance empirical and meta-analytic evidence., Process: A "Task force for cultural adaptation of mental health interventions for refugees" was established to harmonise and document the cultural adaptation process across several randomised controlled trials testing psychological interventions for mental health among refugee populations in Germany. Based on the collected experiences, a sub-group of the task force developed the reporting criteria presented in this paper. Thereafter, an online survey with international experts in cultural adaptation of psychological interventions was conducted, including two rounds of feedback., Results: The consolidation process resulted in eleven reporting criteria to guide and document the process of cultural adaptation of psychological interventions in clinical trials. A template for documenting this process is provided. The eleven criteria are structured along A) Set-up; B) Formative research methods; C) Intervention adaptation; D) Measuring outcomes and implementation., Conclusions: Reporting on cultural adaptation more consistently in future psychological trials will hopefully improve the quality of evidence and contribute to examining the effect of cultural adaptation on treatment efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability., Competing Interests: Eva Heim and Cornelia Weise are both Guest Editors of this Special Issue of Clinical Psychology in Europe but played no editorial role in this particular article or intervened in any form in the peer review process.

Over recent years, more and more unaccompanied minors have been arriving on French territory in search of a better future. As a result of their complicated journey before, during and after the migration, these youngsters have specific psychological needs which are not always recognised by the professionals working with them. Research has highlighted the elements weakening the educational alliance between youngsters and the adults surrounding them., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The Maison de Solenn at Cochin hospital in Paris provides transcultural care to a local migrant population. The transcultural approach consists in taking into account the cultural dimension in care and favours, through a specific technique, the sharing of cultural representations between professionals and families. The therapists can move around the hospital to provide advice as and when required, notably to facilitate care and compliance and to ensure there are no misunderstandings regarding treatments. In some situations, we recommend a transcultural consultation which consists in forming a group of several therapists from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, to discuss a complex situation with the patient and their family., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The arrival of a child is accompanied by a psychological crisis for the future parents. In a context of migration, the parents are exposed to additional factors of vulnerability which further accentuate the intrapsychological and intersubjective change of "becoming a parent". The clinical situation of a family referred for a transcultural consultation shows how the choice of the baby's name can illustrate this issue., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Cross-cultural consultation often uses metaphors. These promote narration, facilitate the therapeutic alliance, and allow psychic elaborations that release our patients' pains. The terms and conditions of their use, as well as their purposes, are more and more determined. They draw from imagination and therapists' lived experiences, in classical stories, in tales and fables from various cultures. This gives them real therapeutic potential, which must be learned to use., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

At the Port-Royal maternity ward in Paris (14th arrondissement), a system has been set up as part of the liaison work. The discussion group "Maternities and cultures, exchanges around cradles" offers a sharing and carrying place in this so singular period of "becoming a mother" . Cultural and professional mixing is at the heart of this system. Presentation of observations of the group's movements over two years., (Publié par Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Objective This study is a comprehensive approach to psychic conflicts encountered by young women confronted with divergent cultural models. It relates the tensions experienced by Renuka, Tamil born in France, in her marital choices between cultural verticality and interbreeding. Method Renuka's matrimonial journey is explored through in-depth semi-structured interviews analyzed using Devereux's complementarist method. Results In a multicultural space, there is a difficulty of positioning. Marital choices reveal intrapsychic tensions that can be overcome by mobilizing strategies, processes and mechanisms articulating identificatory models. Conclusion This study explores the issues of marriage in a migratory context and its effects on the psychic life of individuals and relates the major issues of our mixed societies.

The aim of this paper was to review the literature on adolescent psychiatric disorders related to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Stressful life events, extended home confinement, brutal grief, intrafamilial violence, overuse of the Internet and social media are factors that could influence the mental health of adolescents during this period. The COVID-19 pandemic could result in increased psychiatric disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress, Depressive, and Anxiety Disorders, as well as grief-related symptoms. Adolescents with psychiatric disorders are at risk of a break or change in their care and management; they may experience increased symptoms. The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown may have a negative impact on the mental health of adolescents, although there is still no data on the long term impact of this crisis. Adolescents' individual, familial, and social vulnerability, as well as individual and familial coping abilities, are factors related to adolescent mental health in times of crisis. Adolescents are often vulnerable and require careful consideration by caregivers and healthcare system adaptations to allow for mental health support despite the lockdown. Research on adolescent psychiatric disorders in times of pandemics is necessary, as such a global situation could be prolonged or repeated., Competing Interests: Declarations of Competing Interest None, (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives The article presents the clinical description and discussion of a 17 years old Moroccan unaccompanied minor who migrated on his own to France. This case illustrates the complexity of the foreign unaccompanied minors' trajectories and the challenges of the clinical and institutional accompaniment provided in France. In the lights of the results of our clinical work and research, we suggest transcultural tools and perspectives that facilitate the construction of a narrative and that reinforce trust with the professionals-care givers working along with this population. Creativity is needed in the care of foreign isolated young people, in the absence of the family. Past traumatic experiences in these youths' lives hinder the process of building trust in the host country's educational accompaniment. Method In the framework of our action research, we describe the transcultural therapy setting created by our team to address the unaccompanied minors' psychological distress. Aiming to encourage the emergence of a life narrative that had been obstructed and ruptured by traumatic experiences, we resort to various tools facilitating the storytelling (objects, circle test, mediators interpreters, transcultural interpretations). Results The discussion follows three stances: the anthropological perspective focusing on the specific situation of the harraga-young people wandering both on the psychic and physical levels-, the political perspective, and the trauma clinic perspective. The enhancement and deepening of the cross-cultural skills of social workers strengthen their resources and provide them with better tools to accompany these young people. Additionally, results highlight the impact of the political discourse and strategies in the social workers' self-perception and the strains it creates in their daily work. Conclusion The transcultural approach addressed to unaccompanied minors relaunches the identity construction process in adolescence, impeded by their traumatic journey in migration. This implies restoring coherence in the life path of young people despite the rupture caused by the migration, often reactivated by new separations during the repetitive changes of foster homes. The unaccompanied minors have the possibility, through this clinical setting to depict an accurate representation of themselves, to develop narratives that can outgrow the preconceptions associated with their status, opening a brighter way for their individual destinies.