Groupwork with Refugees and Survivors of Human Rights Abuses

Cohen, R. (2022). Sew to Speak: Common Threads Project Psychotherapy Circles. In Boyles, J., Ewart-Biggs, R., Horn, R., & Lamb, K. (Eds.). (2022). Groupwork with Refugees and Survivors of Human Rights Abuses: The Power of Togetherness (1st ed.) (pp. 211-223). Routledge.

This chapter describes the work of the Common Threads Project (CTP) and how psychotherapy circles are used to fill a gap in long-term psychological recovery from sexual violence in the humanitarian context, drawing from work in Bosnia, Ecuador, Nepal and The Democratic Republic of Congo. CTP has developed an integrative intervention that incorporates the tradition of story cloth-making with other therapeutic modalities informed by neuroscientific understandings of trauma, traditional practices that have healing power and groupwork. The chapter covers the therapeutic power of story cloths and includes two clinical examples from the field showing the story cloths produced.

Groupwork with Refugees and Survivors of Human Rights Abuses describes, explores and promotes the power of groupwork for refugees and survivors of human rights abuses in a range of contexts. Drawing on multiple theoretical approaches, the book features chapters from practitioners running groups in different settings, such as torture rehabilitation services, refugee camps, and reception centres. The voices of participants demonstrate the variety, creativity, and value of group and community approaches for recovery. The editors have gathered chapters into three sections covering: community-based approaches; groups that work through the medium of “body and soul”; and group approaches that focus on change through the spoken word. The book will be relevant to those working in rehabilitation, community, mental health, and humanitarian fields and are interested in using groupwork as part of their services. The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license. [Abstract from author]