Sharing Stories Eases Pain: Core Relational Processes of a Group Intervention with Syrian Refugees in Jordan

ABSTRACT This interpretive qualitative study investigated relationships and relational processes that facilitate social connection in a group-therapy intervention for Syrian refugees in Jordan. Drawing from grounded theory analytical methods, a core relational process, sharing stories eases pain, was derived from the data to explain how group members came to develop close, caring relationships, which led to other psychosocial benefits. The findings fill a gap in the group treatment literature specific to refugees and advance understanding of group relationships as an active ingredient promoting change. Findings also suggest that group based treatment may be uniquely suited to address some of the broader social-relational consequences of conflict and forced migration.