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

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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

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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

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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

Social Services

Whole-person and Whole-family Approach to Emergency Preparedness and Response
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Administration, ORR trainings and reporting, Social Services, Webinar
70 Minutes
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
Description This Virtual Town Meeting, held on June 4, 2025, was sponsored by the Office...
Free
Read more
Strengthening intensive case management and care coordination in response to socio-environmental vulnerabilities
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Case management, Case Management Basics, ORR trainings and reporting, Social Rehabilitation and Case Management, Social Services, Webinar
28 Minutes
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
Description This Virtual Town Meeting, held on April 8, 2025, was sponsored by the Office...
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
AsylumWorks Fellowship Training: Stage One
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Administration, Webinar, Innovative strategies, Organizational development, Social Services
85 Minutes
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
1 Student
Description: The subsequent three webinars will discuss the mechanics of the fellowship program across three...
Free
Read more
AsylumWorks Fellowship Training: Stage Two
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Social Services, Organizational development, Innovative strategies, Webinar, Administration
90 Minutes
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
Description: The subsequent three webinars will discuss the mechanics of the fellowship program across three...
Free
Read more
AsylumWorks Fellowship Training: Stage Three
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Organizational development, Innovative strategies, Webinar, Administration, Social Services
80 Minutes
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
Description: This virtual training was conducted as a 4-part series. The initial webinar on the...
Free
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Services in Support of Children of Survivors
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Administration, Children, Children, Children and Torture, Mental Health, ORR trainings and reporting, Pediatric and adolescent services, Social Services, Webinar
41 Minutes
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
During the 2024 ORR Survivor of Torture Recipient Meeting, held in Washington, DC on March...
Free
Read more
Prevention and Treatment Services for Substance Use Disorders among Survivors
by
Sara Bracewell
in
Mental Health, Social Services, Administration, Webinar, Special Topics, Special challenges, Organizational development, Substance abuse, ORR trainings and reporting, Substance Abuse
62 Minutes
All levels
0 Lessons
0 Quizzes
0 Students
During the 2024 ORR Survivor of Torture Recipient Meeting, held in Washington, DC on March...
Free
Read more