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Homicide Bereavement

Reflections on the Therapeutic Relationship in Trauma Research

Arizona State University, Phoenix, Maureen.Campesino{at}asu.edu

This critical narrative ethnography focused on the aftermath of gang-related homicide of two Latino teenage boys, as articulated from the perspectives of their mothers. Grounded in critical race theory, this study situates the phenomenon of Latino youth violence within contexts of local oppressive political and historical conditions. This article explores therapeutic aspects of the researcher's relationship with the bereaved mothers, ethical issues involved in trauma research, and the role of reflexivity. The bereavement narratives represent the subjugated voices of women living with violence in marginalized communities and reveal multiple layers of dehumanization. The therapeutic relationship that developed between the participants and researcher became an effective strategy for rehumanization. The traumatic nature of the women's bereavement produced a deep vulnerability, requiring a complex negotiation of roles and responsibilities of the researcher. The self-reflective experiences of the researcher in this negotiation process with the women are also explored and described.

Key Words: Latinos • nurse relationship • reflexivity • trauma

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