How can fair, migration-sensitive psychotherapeutic care be provided in culturally diverse Austria? This question is the focus of a new interdisciplinary research project launched in collaboration between Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna and the University of Vienna.
Diversity as a Challenge for the Healthcare System
In a society where people of different cultural, religious, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds live side by side, the psycho-social healthcare system is confronted with unique challenges related to migration. These may include language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, or structural inequalities that can affect the quality and accessibility of care.
To gain a deeper understanding of these dynamics, the project analyses video recordings of real-life therapy sessions. The focus lies on the interactions between therapists and clients with migration backgrounds. How do these conversations unfold from a transcultural perspective? Which difficulties emerge – and which shared strategies can be developed to address them?
Collaborating for More Equitable Care
This research project brings together expertise from the fields of psychotherapy science and sociology. Partners include the Institute for Qualitative Psychotherapy Research and the Psychotherapeutic Outpatient Clinic at Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna, as well as the INMI research group at the University of Vienna’s Institute of Sociology.
The study’s long-term goal is to integrate its findings into the training and continuing education of psychotherapists. In doing so, it aims to promote equal opportunities and contribute to lasting improvements in the psychotherapeutic care of individuals with migration backgrounds.
All relevant information and documents on the study are available at Research Project: Migration in the Context of Psychotherapeutic Practice.