Listening to the Queer Diaspora: A Cartography of the Psychosocial Care Provided to Queer Refugees

"The care of refugees is a pressing issue in light of the geopolitical context in both the UK and EU. Refugees, particularly those facing intersecting vulnerabilities related to gender and sexuality, are frequently subjected to various forms of violence, as shown in both academic and societal discourses. The project LINSTENINGS proposes an innovative interdisciplinary study in the field of psychosocial care for queer refugees, integrating art, psychoanalysis, and clinical writing. The aim is to enhance psychosocial listening practices through writing workshops with clinicians working with this population across public and private mental health services in the UK. In an interdisciplinary manner, the project seeks to map and analyze artworks created by queer refugees in the UK, creating a comprehensive portfolio and public archive. This archive will serve as interpretive material for symbolic analysis and a foundational resource for future writing workshops. Moreover, the project will develop an innovative methodology of ""psychosocial cartography"" through these workshops, promoting collective reflection on care practices while moving beyond the individualistic focus of traditional psychoanalytic methods. The research further aims to advance the study of gender and sexuality in psychoanalysis from a decolonial and intersectional perspective, focusing on the queer diaspora. With three primary research objectives and six work packages, this proposal merges artistic practices with clinical methodologies to establish a network of professionals and create an alternative counter-archive of care. Ethical and legal considerations regarding using images and sensitive data will be addressed, ensuring confidentiality and proper credit to the artists and participants. This project's anticipated impact is theoretical and practical, broadening psychosocial approaches and developing new ways of caring for marginalized populations through the integration of art and clinical care."