Description
Survivors of torture and other human-rights violations from the former Yugoslavia, Turkey, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and other regions require medical, social, and psychotherapeutic assistance. Unfortunately, torture survivors often meet with silence and disbelief from others—a profound unwillingness to confront the reality of their suffering. The very nature of torture, which destroys the dignity and well-being of its victims, often makes survivors themselves doubt this reality: as a result, they feel completely alone and may no longer believe in the possibility of human communication.
Available for the first time in English, At the Side of Torture Survivors provides an intimate portrait of the difficulties facing torture survivors and the therapists who strive to help them. Written by specialists at the Berlin Center for the Treatment of Torture Victims, the book covers topics ranging from physical rehabilitation to advocacy for those seeking asylum and justice. The authors describe traumatic aftereffects of torture such as memory loss, nightmares, and psychosomatic disorders, and outline therapeutic treatments such as dream therapy and storytelling. Throughout, the authors document their work without hiding the limits and failures that often accompany it. They tell of the difficulty of diagnosing torture symptoms, discuss the problems impeding therapeutically effective contact with torture victims, and reflect on the burdens faced by therapists themselves.Reviews
"Graessner and his colleagues have constructed a strong argument that should be studied and considered by students of politcal violence and terrorism from the clinical aspect as well as in terms of the public policy implications."—Christopher A. Simon, Terrorism and Political Violence"At the Side of Torture Survivors makes the effort to convey not only the profound consequences of torture on the survivor, but also the effects of this work on the care providers and on all of us as citizens of this world."—Mary Fabri, Human Rights Quarterly "Considering the therapeutic, political, bureaucratic, and human angles and angst, I put the book down exhausted but with a sense of deep admiration for these professionals who found a calling and persevered."—Harry A. WilmerMD, Journal of the American Medical Association "An outstanding collection that brings an extraordinary international perspective to the growing literature on the treatment of the survivors of torture. The great strengths of this book are its courageous depiction of the complexities of torture and the treatment of torture victims and its honest appraisal of when and how treatment succeeds or fails. The authors are clearly well acquainted with current research and with approaches used in torture-treatment centers throughout the world. What comes through in their writing is the extraordinary respect that they hold for their patients . . . The world owes them thanks not only for their courageous clinical work but also for their efforts to share their experiences and those of their patients with all of us in this exceptional book."—Ellen T. Gerrity, Ph.D., New England Journal of Medicine "At the Side of Torture Survivors is a valuable contribution to teh burgeoning literature on torture . . . [It] is useful for general health practitioners, as well as for those who specialize in torture rehabilitationl. It should also be informative for otehrs whoencounter torture survivors, for human rights advocates, and for the general public."—James M. Jaranson, M.D.M.A. M.P.H., Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease "[A]n interesting and helpful introduction to a topic we wish were less important and prevalent than it is."—James W. Lomax, M.D., Journal of Clinical Psychiatry "This book admirably highlights the struggles that are ignored by the media in nits everyday news, and furthermore, it exemplifies how tortured people can be helped to an extent such that they are able to continue living in relative peace."—Anish Gupta, International Review of Psychiatry "A collection of essays on the nature of torture, its devastating long-term effects and the methods used to help victims, written by experts from a specialist centre in Berlin."—David Mattin, London Times "This book documents the experiences of a group of caregivers helping victims to learn to trust and love themselves and those around them. I commend it to all those who are involved in this important ministry."—From the Foreword by Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus "An engrossing and vivid account of difficult work done by a team of very dedicated professionals. Individuals interested in global human rights issues will want to read this book."—Francis Mark Mondimore, M.D., The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Author Information
Sepp Graessner, M.D., is cofounder of the Berlin Center for the Treatment of Torture Victims and is in charge of forensics at the center. He has worked in private practice, emergency medicine, and tropical medicine. Norbert Gurris is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist who worked for the Berlin Center for the Treatment of Torture Victims from 1992-1999. He has practiced in Berlin for more than twenty-five years. Christian Pross, M.D., is cofounder and medical director of the Berlin Center for the Treatment of Torture Victims. He is the author of Cleansing the Fatherland: Nazi Medicine and Racial Hygiene, and Paying for the Past: The Struggle over Reparations for Surviving Victims of the Nazi Terror, also available from Johns Hopkins.
|
Add hardcover to shopping cart
Abuse and Victimization across the Life Span