Experiences of families in Northern Ireland and post- 1967 occupied Palestine are explored to highlight the impacts of trauma, political violence and dislocation on family life. A therapeutic model which focusses in detail on the psychological and relational effects of oppression and power imbalance is outlined. The disadvantages of applying individualized models of post-traumatic stress disorder to contexts where assaults on community life are ongoing are addressed through the concepts of complex trauma and community trauma with its associated traumas of impotence and humiliation. The wider effects of social deprivation and poor access to mental health facilities are addressed as well as - in the case of Palestine - the ongoing theft of land and livelihoods. Factors which support family and community resilience are discussed. Therapeutic interventions that aim to strengthen family and community connections and sustain hope in contexts of extreme suffering and despair are outlined. The presentation includes a discussion of the position of therapists who endure the same political oppression and traumatic experiences as those they are helping and draws out some principles that can be useful to therapists working in other contexts.

Conference Title

EFTA 2019 - 10th Conference of the European Family Therapy Association

Conference Country

Italy

Conference Date

Sept. 11, 2019 - Sept. 14, 2019

Conference Sponsor

European Family Therapy Association