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.

544 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.

339 Resources Available

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Integrative Social Work with Asylum Seekers and Traumatized Migrants

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.

334 Resources Available

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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.

618 Resources Available

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

Integrative Care Resources

topic term description lorem porttitor, lacus id pretium fermentum, dolor nisl pharetra lectus, rhoncus rhoncus enim nisl non nibh. Nullam vel arcu luctus, iaculis eros feugiat, varius augue. Aliquam in ligula a dolor.

21 Resources Available

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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.

368 Resources Available

Browse all Administration Resources

AsylumWorks Fellowship Training

Available to full members only

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.

544 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.

339 Resources Available

Browse all Social Services Resources

Integrative Social Work with Asylum Seekers and Traumatized Migrants

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.

334 Resources Available

Browse all Legal Resources

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.

618 Resources Available

Browse all Medical Resources

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

Integrative Care Resources

topic term description lorem porttitor, lacus id pretium fermentum, dolor nisl pharetra lectus, rhoncus rhoncus enim nisl non nibh. Nullam vel arcu luctus, iaculis eros feugiat, varius augue. Aliquam in ligula a dolor.

21 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.

368 Resources Available

Browse all Administration Resources

AsylumWorks Fellowship Training

Available to full members only

Home » About » Meet the Team » Ceila VanDeGraaf

Ceila VanDeGraaf

Membership Committee Chair of NCTTP and Executive Director, Center for Survivors of Torture

Celia_VanDeGraaf

Celia VanDeGraaf, M.A, has over 25 years of experience in non-profit management. Committed to holistic health, she directs CST’s healing program, which eases survivors’ transition into new beginnings and fosters hope by providing specialized services addressing psychological, medical, social needs, and legal referrals, and by delivering training opportunities. Accountable for all administrative, development, programmatic, and fiscal management operations and communications. Responsible for HIPAA compliance, accounting, social media, and outreach, monitoring, and evaluation. Links with university programs, hospitals, and medical schools to train staff and clinical interns, treating international trauma survivors. VanDeGraaf has been recognized for her contributions, winning the Ed Wendler Award for service in the refugee community.

A subject expert regarding torture treatment in Texas, she is Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Texas, Clinical Psychology Department, ranked 4th in the nation.