Citation

Munczek DS. Psychiatry 1998; 61(4): 318-329.

Affiliation

Adult Psychiatry Clinic, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York City 10033, USA. dm205@columbia.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Guilford Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9919626

Abstract

The short-term treatment of a Honduran torture survivor is recounted. Torture--the "counter-therapy of the State" (Ritterman 1987, p. 43)--involves intentional physical and psychological destruction of human beings. The socio-political context in which the traumatic events occurred is described, as are the theoretical and ethical assumptions underlying the work. Treatment of victims of organized violence is a formidable challenge. Obstacles and advantages of short-term psychotherapy and use of the therapist's emotional reactions to understand survivors' experiences are emphasized.

Language: en