Treating Trauma

The extent and consequences of violence against women differ from country to country, so the most useful forms of psycho-social counselling and support also differ. In its local projects, medica mondiale only works with local psycho-social counsellors. They are most familiar with the women’s worries and hardships and the taboos prevailing in their society.

In many countries, psycho-social and trauma-specific approaches are almost unknown, and there are therefore very few trained specialists on the ground. At the same time, there are usually no functioning traditional “healing rituals” or other approaches for women. This is why medica mondiale offers intensive further training to all of its local staff and invites them to share their experiences with colleagues from other projects of medica mondiale.

Ultimately, medica mondiale works together with the local members of staff to develop appropriate approaches for psychosocial support and trauma work. The aim of the psychosocial support and of the psychotherapy is to support the women in coming to terms with their traumatic experiences and to give them the chance – despite the experience of degrading and destructive violence – to live independently and securely within social surroundings that acknowledge their suffering but also their will to survive and their strength. This also involves the recreation of their self-esteem, the reduction of trauma symptoms and the removal of social isolation. The affected women should not feel totally dominated by the past and their experiences of violence but should be able to focus their attention again on the present and the future.

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