Publications on Psycho-trauma

How to make a choice?

Not only since the founding of EMDR has a wide selection of scientific and medical literature become available on the theme of “Psycho-trauma” and “Work on trauma”. From these masses of material, medica mondiale has compiled a selection which the experts themselves work with. In addition, we have provided a detailed bibliography , classified according to theme (135 KB, ). A list of literature available online can be found on the link page under the heading Literature.

 

Violence against Women in War
Handbook for Professionals Working with Traumatised Women

Sexualised violence against women is part of every war, since ancient times. The victims are often as numerous – if not more numerous – as those who have been killed, and many of those who have been killed have also been raped. Usually there is no punishment for the perpetrators, and no help for the victims to deal with their multifold wounds. Post-war rehabilitation programs generally don’t provide for their needs. Only since recently some NGOs have started addressing the issue and offer practical help, among them the German NGO medica mondiale e.V., editor of the recently published manual, kind of „lessons learned“ from 11 years of experience in half a dozen of countries emerging from war. (The English version is not a word-for-word translation but an adaptation of the German manual with the title „Sexualisierte Kriegsgewalt und ihre Folgen“ published in 2004 and meant to provide background knowledge and practical advice to professionals working with or preparing projects for traumatised women, survivors of war related sexualised violence.)

medica mondiale e.V. (ed.), Mabuse-Verlag, Frankfurt 2005.
ISBN 3-938304-26-X

 

Krieg, Geschlecht und Traumatisierung
(War, Gender, and Traumatisation)
Experiences and Reflections on Working with Traumatised Women in War and Crisis Areas

A documentation of medica mondiale` s Conference of Experts in 1998. A lengthy and well-structured overview on work with women traumatised by war. Experts from various countries introduce their work, their experiences and approaches from psychotherapeutic and medical, but also from legal, socio-legal and political viewpoints.

Marlies Fröse, Ina Volpp-Teuscher (Hg.), Edition Hipparchia, IKO Verlag, Frankfurt 1999.
ISBN 3-88939-615-1

 

Die Narben der Gewalt
(The Scars of Violence)
Understanding and Overcoming Traumatic Experiences

After twenty years of intensive research and experience in treating survivors of traumatic occurrences, Judith L. Herman has developed her own concept of psychotraumatology. In case studies, she demonstrates a broad spectrum of reactions to traumatic events and traces the healing process of survivors of completely different traumatic experiences, whereby the factors common to all are reflected. The concept for treatment has served as a guidepost for many years, not only in the USA.

Judith L. Herman, München 1994.
ISBN 3-87387-525-X, Neuauflage

 

Die Gewalt überleben
(Surviving Violence)
Psychological and Social Work in the Context of War, Dictatorship and Poverty

The medico-Report is a documentation of the work of main contributors to the Conference on “Psychological and Social Work in Post-War Societies and Dictatorships”, which took place in Mainz in June 2000. For five days, staff members from 20 projects in twelve different countries questioned each other on the themes to which they are dedicated: “How can one help and lend support to people who have suffered what is termed “a crime against humanity”? How can this take place under social conditions in which the victims are barely listened to, let alone paid support or damages, while the perpetrators often go free?

Medico Report 23, Frankfurt/Main 2001
ISBN 3-923363-29-x und ISBN 3-933050-83-9

 

Imagination als heilsame Kraft
(The Healing Power of Imagination)
The Treatment of the Results of Trauma with Resource-Oriented Methods

Incorporating imaging into therapeutic work can stabilise clients and effectively support their powers of self-healing. A rich anthology of imagination exercises has been developed for survivors, but it also lends support to people whose psychological balance may be disturbed.. Artistic and bodily expression complements the work with inner visualisations.

Luise Reddermann, Pfeiffer bei Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2001.
ISBN 3-608-89691-0

 

Trauma-Heilung
(Healing Trauma)
The Awakening of the Tiger. Our Ability to Transform Traumatic Experiences.

Trauma can be healed. Not by changing the past, but by awakening new powers through the creative potential of the subconscious. This handbook on bodywork method is a valuable contribution to the process of transforming traumatic experiences into healing power.

Peter A. Levine mit Ann Frederick, Synthesis Verlag Essen 1998.
ISBN 3-922026-91-5

 

Trauma und Ressourcen
(Trauma and Resources)

Culture and trauma are related. Traumatic experiences also destroy cultural and social determinants of successful human life and social interaction. Allowing the social, political, cultural and gender-specific factors to flow into the diagnosis of psychological disturbances is part of this comprehensive handbook. However, even more emphasis is placed on the psychological resources of survivors, on reinforcing them, and addressing them within the framework of effective measures of promoting the health of traumatised refugees.

Martine Verwey (HG.), VWB Verlag für wissenschaftliche Bildung, Berlin 2001.
ISBN 3-86135-752-6

 

Frauen in Kosova
(Women in Kosova)
Stories of living in war and reconstruction

Fifteen portraits show how women survived the war in Kosova and have since come to terms with the difficult post-war period: Latfife, a policewoman who goes on patrol duty, Vjosa, a paediatrician who becomes politically active in the provisional administration, or Hyrie, one of the few UCK-fighters now serving in the security corps. All talk about the difficult experiences they have faced and how they find the courage to continue. A very personal impression of Kosovarian-Albanian society in the phase of reconstruction.

Elisabeth Kaestli, Limmat Verlag Zürich 2001.
ISBN 3-85791-358-4

 

Woman Organizing for Change

Local woman’s organisations have become an important component in an emerging “civil society” in Bosnia-Herzegowina in the period since the end of hostilities in 1995. This book is a study of seven such small NGOs. It discusses their strengths an d weaknesses and the promise they may hold for a womens movement in B-H. It’s based on partnership between researchers in Medica Womans Assosciation and the City University, London.

Cynthia Cockburn, Second look 5, Medica Zenica Infotheka.
ISBN 9958-9586-8

 

Traumatisierte Flüchtlinge: Wie glaubhaft sind ihre Ausagen?
(Traumatised Refugees: How Believable Is Their Testimony)

In Germany, asylum-seekers are required to give all the reasons for their appeal: i.e. the reasons for their political persecution and the history of their escape ...This testimony must be truthful, chronologically correct, free of contradictions, detailed, and complete. Most applications are rejected because they are not considered to be believable. This is primarily due to a lack of detail and self-contradictory statements. The author shows how difficulties in communication, the experience of being traumatised, and post-traumatic disturbances decisively influence this process.

Angelika Birck, Asanger Verlag Heidelberg, Kröning, 2002.
ISBN 3-89334-376-8

 

Traumatherapie – Was ist erfolgreich?
(Trauma Therapy – What Forms are Successful)

For more than a decade, experts have been developing models of understanding and strategies for dealing with post-traumatic stress through therapy. This book offer preliminary responses to the questions: What methods promise success? What has been tried, tested, and approved? Have forms of therapy with different orientations lead to comparable results? A comprehensive view of the various approaches and methods of trauma therapy complements the evaluation the existing forms of therapy: in-patient and out-patient treatment, Gestalt Therapy, EMDR, Bioenergetics, Hypnosis Therapy, Neurolinguistic Programming.

Ulrich Sachsse, Ibrahim Özkan, Annette Streeck-Fischer (Hg.), Vandenhoek & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2002.
ISBN 3-525-45892-4

 

Das Unsagbare
(There Are No Words for It)

At the Treatment Centre for Torture Victims in Berlin, approx. 450 people who are victims of political persecution, torture or civil war receive medical, psychotherapeutic and social support every year. Ten years after its opening, the staff members of the BFZO (treatment centre) have evaluated their work, described their therapeutic activities and documented aspects of trauma therapy.

Birck - Pross - Lansen (Hg.)
ISBN 3-540-43856-4

 

Der Körper erinnert sich
(The Body Remembers)
The Psychophysiology of Trauma and its Treatment

How do traumatic experiences affect us? And how do we react to them? With simple theoretic explanations and techniques which can be easily applied, the author offers interested lay persons a full understanding of the situation in which victims find themselves and offers therapists room to apply knowledge solidly based in theory as well as to develop new therapeutic interventions.

Babette Rothschild, Synthesis Verlag.
ISBN 3-922026-27-3

 

Überleben am Abgrund
(Surviving on the Edge)
Psychological Trauma and Human Rights

Victims of violence suffer due to painful losses, the destruction of their faith in the world, attacks on their human dignity. Nevertheless, they sometimes develop survival strategies which are astoundingly creative. Special offers of therapy, social integration and public recognition of their losses can help.
This book is a suitable, easy-to-read introduction to the central questions of psychotraumatology. The authors also understand their contributions to be a plea for recognition of the human rights of trauma victims.

Klaus Ottomeyer, Karl Peltzer (Hg.)
ISBN 3-85435-364-2

 

Traumatic Stress – Grundlagen und Behandlungsansätze
(Traumatic Stress – Basics and Approaches to Treatment)
Theory, Practice, and Research on Post-Traumatic Stress and Trauma Therapy

This book by internationally leading specialists for trauma research has become the classic handbook in the area of research on and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorders. The German edition provides a wealth of background information and treatment possibilities for interested parties and for those involved in various capacities as well as for therapists.

Bessel A. van der Kolk, Alexander C. McFarlane, Lars Weisaeth (Hg.), Junfermann Verlag Paderborn, 2000.
ISBN 3-87387-348-2

 

Erfahrungen sexualisierter Gewalt in der Lebensgeschichte alter Frauen
(Experiences of Sexualised Violence in the Biographies of Elder Women)
Approaches to Women-Oriented Work with Female Senior Citizens

The staff member of a care-home and author Martina Böhmer has recorded her experiences with sexualised violence in the biographies of elder women in a book which informs readers and makes them sensitive to the situation. Many people who work with the aged in care-homes, hospitals and hospices have no idea how simple nursing routines or errors in treatment method can cause these women to become re-traumatised. Women between the ages of 60 and 100 only rarely speak of their experiences. Those who develop the ability to intuit the meaning of their messages and their fears can guess what has occurred, develop an understanding of the situation, and provide a sheltered environment where care and healing are possible today.

Martina Böhmer, Mabuse Verlag, Frankfurt/Main, 2000.
ISBN 3-933050-16-2