Page 78 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

Christian Psychology alive

on of reentry programs offered by mission the opposite is being re enforced in the home.
agencies for their missionary kids. I would Again, I would respond to the MK in the same
encourage the therapist to explore the va- way that I would with other types of TCKs. I
rious programs that are available and help would just as likely find this type of anxiety in
the parents find the right program for their the home of the TCK from other sectors as I
MK and their individual situation. would in the life of the MK.

At times I have assigned a diagnosis too quik- So what is the main difference between wor-
kly on an MK because of their global lifestyle king the TCK from other sectors and the MK?
or what I may have experienced in my own life I believe it is the role of God in the life of the
as an MK. Only to discover later in the thera- family of the MK, in most cases. God is cen-
py process, that I was wrong in my assessment. tral to everything in the life of the MK. This is
I believe a number of questions need to asked why they are moving to a different country, why
by the therapist, which I am certain was the their parent’s have a job, who they talk to and
process that Dr. Katabua used, before making about every day, who they try to model their li-
a diagnosis such as anxiety or obsessive com- ves after, who they ask for guidance regarding
pulsive disorder. “What is creating the anxiety which school their children should attend, and
within the child? What is happening within who tells them what they should do. Their very
their environment and with their parents?” Yes, being, career and worth is rooted in God. Than
it could be rooted in their lifestyle of high mobi- the question becomes, “Is it safe tell the thera-
lity creating the need to say repeatedly goodbye pist what I honestly think about God”? When
to childhood friends, homes, schools, etc. Using the MK is a child, they are not emotionally
the example given by the author, I would want ready to process these types of questions, but
to know what is the parent’s attitude towards it is central to their psychological make up. It
the child befriending the locals, learning the goes back to basic question of the impact of the
language, playing in the homes of the locals and system(s) in which the child is raised impacts
launching out on their own in the community? the child. This is what is different with the MK
Have the parents invited other local children over many TCKs from other sectors. Keeping
into their home so their child can learn the lan- in mind that other TCKs can also be raised in
guage? Do the children go to the local church, a Christian home where God is central in their
or are they only having church in their home? home, but with the MK this is felt much stron-
Is the child isolated? If the parents are anxious ger as it is in every part of their job, it is why
about their children’s involvement with the lo- they are missionaries.
cal community, than the child will pick up on
this feeling and sense that it is unsafe to do so I am so pleased to read articles such as this one
and not be able to verbalize why they feel that where this topic is discussed. We need to reco-
way. They just know that it is not safe. It is much gnize that when we get a TCK in our counseling
easier to simply state, “They are anxious becau- office, they have been deeply impacted by their
se they are an MK and the child makes negative life of high mobility. And our counseling should
self statements because they are angry about the explore the impact of that lifestyle on their life.
move ”. I want to know why they are anxious. Thank you, Dr. Katabua for your contribution
It is hard to change the behavior of the child if to this discussion.

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