Portuguese Families: The Story of Their Fado Told Through Therapy

Migration is an anthropological phenomenon that has been part of human existence since the dawn of time. People move from one country to another, or from one region to another, mostly in search of better living conditions. This involves heartbreak and a severing of the bonds that tie them to the world they know. The familiar world consists of one's country of origin, its culture, customs, family, friends, and an entire social system within which both personal and social identities are formed. In situations of migration, both personal and social identities are called into question. Some migrants are willing to redefine their place in the world with the help of therapeutic intervention. Systemic therapeutic work involves understanding the individual and their systems. In this relationship, the systemic therapist is often confronted with their own ties of belonging and personal resonances.