Mental Health Resources

Torture survivors engage in psychological services to pursue a wide range of goals, from single symptom reduction to addressing the complex effects of torture on their families and communities. Psychological effects of torture vary considerably. Likewise, there is wide variation in the types of assistance sought to address such effects, depending on a host of factors ranging from service accessibility to beliefs about health and healing.

488 Resources Available

Browse all Mental Health Resources

Assessment and Treatment of Traumatic Brain/Head Injury in Survivors of Torture

Social Services Resources

Torture occurs within a cultural and social context. It breaks the connections between individuals and their social environment. It separates the bonds of communities. Social work interventions, therefore, are directed at individuals, their families and immediate environments, community, social, and functional groups, and policies and systems. These are accomplished through direct service, resource development, community interventions, education and training, research, and public policy work.

306 Resources Available

Browse all Social Services Resources

A ‘Springy Tornado’: Therapy with a Child Refugee with Disorganized Attachment

Legal Resources

Attorneys encounter torture survivors with a variety of legal needs. Frequently, however, the survivor’s initial and most pressing legal problem involves immigration matters, such as asylum, family reunification, or defense from removal (deportation). Because safety is crucial to the survivor’s ability to engage fully in torture treatment services, the asylum process is integral to rehabilitation.

268 Resources Available

Browse all Legal Resources

Guide: Afghan Backgrounder

Medical Resources

Survivors of torture often present for care in medical settings, and sometimes in torture treatment programs. The medical portion of HealTorture.org is primarily, but not exclusively, geared to primary care providers (PCPs), including family doctors, internists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Other staff members in medical settings such as nurses and medical assistants can also facilitate survivors’ healing. Survivors frequently present to gynecologists (due to genital trauma, pelvic pain, etc.), cardiologists (persistent chest pain), gastroenterologists (persistent abdominal pain), and neurologists (intractable headaches and history of traumatic brain injury). Many survivors have gotten great relief of symptoms from physical therapists and practitioners of yoga and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

584 Resources Available

Browse all Medical Resources

Assessment and Treatment of Traumatic Brain/Head Injury in Survivors of Torture

Integrative Care Resources

18 Resources Available

Browse all Integrative Care Resources

Improving Well-Being for Refugees in Primary Care: A Toolkit for Providers

Administration Resources

Resources for practitioners in operations and administration who are serving survivors of torture are as follows: development, integrated care, evaluation, technology, training, working with interpreters, and self-care.

290 Resources Available

Browse all Administration Resources

AsylumWorks Fellowship Training

Available to full members only

Program Evaluation Resources

Resources for all staff serving survivors of torture to use program evaluation to set the direction of the program, assess the impact of their work, and improve care. For those with dedicated Evaluation and/or Data Management staff, there is a Roadmap to Data Analysis series for an introduction to inferential statistics and Client Data Toolkit series on identifying and implementing a client data management system for your organizational needs.

70 Resources Available

Browse all Program Evaluation Resources

Fundamentals: Introduction to Program Evaluation Resources

Mental Health Resources

Torture survivors engage in psychological services to pursue a wide range of goals, from single symptom reduction to addressing the complex effects of torture on their families and communities. Psychological effects of torture vary considerably. Likewise, there is wide variation in the types of assistance sought to address such effects, depending on a host of factors ranging from service accessibility to beliefs about health and healing.

488 Resources Available

Browse all Mental Health Resources

Assessment and Treatment of Traumatic Brain/Head Injury in Survivors of Torture

Social Services Resources

Torture occurs within a cultural and social context. It breaks the connections between individuals and their social environment. It separates the bonds of communities. Social work interventions, therefore, are directed at individuals, their families and immediate environments, community, social, and functional groups, and policies and systems. These are accomplished through direct service, resource development, community interventions, education and training, research, and public policy work.

306 Resources Available

Browse all Social Services Resources

A ‘Springy Tornado’: Therapy with a Child Refugee with Disorganized Attachment

Legal Resources

Attorneys encounter torture survivors with a variety of legal needs. Frequently, however, the survivor’s initial and most pressing legal problem involves immigration matters, such as asylum, family reunification, or defense from removal (deportation). Because safety is crucial to the survivor’s ability to engage fully in torture treatment services, the asylum process is integral to rehabilitation.

268 Resources Available

Browse all Legal Resources

Guide: Afghan Backgrounder

Medical Resources

Survivors of torture often present for care in medical settings, and sometimes in torture treatment programs. The medical portion of HealTorture.org is primarily, but not exclusively, geared to primary care providers (PCPs), including family doctors, internists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Other staff members in medical settings such as nurses and medical assistants can also facilitate survivors’ healing. Survivors frequently present to gynecologists (due to genital trauma, pelvic pain, etc.), cardiologists (persistent chest pain), gastroenterologists (persistent abdominal pain), and neurologists (intractable headaches and history of traumatic brain injury). Many survivors have gotten great relief of symptoms from physical therapists and practitioners of yoga and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

584 Resources Available

Browse all Medical Resources

Assessment and Treatment of Traumatic Brain/Head Injury in Survivors of Torture

Integrative Care Resources

18 Resources Available

Browse all Integrative Care Resources

Improving Well-Being for Refugees in Primary Care: A Toolkit for Providers

Administration Resources

Resources for practitioners in operations and administration who are serving survivors of torture are as follows: development, integrated care, evaluation, technology, training, working with interpreters, and self-care.

290 Resources Available

Browse all Administration Resources

AsylumWorks Fellowship Training

Available to full members only

Program Evaluation Resources

Resources for all staff serving survivors of torture to use program evaluation to set the direction of the program, assess the impact of their work, and improve care. For those with dedicated Evaluation and/or Data Management staff, there is a Roadmap to Data Analysis series for an introduction to inferential statistics and Client Data Toolkit series on identifying and implementing a client data management system for your organizational needs.

70 Resources Available

Browse all Program Evaluation Resources

Fundamentals: Introduction to Program Evaluation Resources

Medical

Hope: Trauma-Informed Care Schooling for Displaced Children Globally
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Children, Children, Children, Children and Torture, Medical, Mental Health, Trauma & PTSD, Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine, Webinar
100 Minutes
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
Description This webinar, held on May 15, 2025, was sponsored by the Office of Refugee...
Free
Read more
Trauma Informed Care (TIC) for Survivors of Torture Virtual Symposium
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Medical, Webinar, Trauma, Trauma & PTSD, Staff Training
4 Hours
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
Description The Center for Victims of Torture’s National Capacity Building Project and our partner, The...
Free
Read more
Transforming Trauma: The Path to Hope and Healing
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Mental Health, Social Services, Medical, Webinar, Treatment Approaches, Treatment Model, Mental Health Groups, Trauma & PTSD, Staff Training, Trauma, Interventions
135 Minutes
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
This workshop, held on October 1, 2024, was hosted by The National Capacity Building Project...
Free
Read more
Trauma-Informed Dentistry for Survivors of Torture
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Common medical conditions, Dental, Integrated Care, Integrative Care, Medical, Other Strategies, Staff Training, Webinar
90 Minutes
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
Description The panelists in this recorded webinar are clinicians and academics who have been at...
Free
Read more
Strengthening Afghan Families
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Medical, Administration, Webinar, Common medical conditions, Organizational development, ORR trainings and reporting, Dental
1 Hour
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
1 Student
Description During the ORR Virtual Town Meeting (VTM) on August 14, 2024, Dr. Omar Read...
Free
Read more
Clinical Care of Survivors of Torture: Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19: long-term neurocognitive impacts
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Traumatic brain injury, Medical, Webinar, Common medical conditions, COVID-19, Trauma & PTSD
1 Hour
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
The National Capacity Building (NCB) Project at the Center for Victims of Torture and The...
Free
Read more
Clinical Care of Survivors of Torture: Wellness for Survivors of Torture
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Medical, Administration, Webinar, Treatment Approaches, Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Self-care for staff
1 Hour
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
The National Capacity Building (NCB) Project at the Center for Victims of Torture and The...
Free
Read more
Providing Trauma-informed Services to Older Survivors of Torture
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Mental Health, Social Services, Medical, Administration, Webinar, Special Topics, Common medical conditions, Diabetes, Cambodians/Khmer, COVID-19, Integrated Care, ORR trainings and reporting, Cambodians/Khmer, Cambodians
90 Minutes
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
Description: During the Virtual Town Meeting held on January 23, 2024, three insightful program presentations...
Free
Read more