Psychoanalytic Field Work for Refugees Exposed to Human Rights Violations

Abstract

Human Rights Violations (HRVs) are widespread and frequent and may lead to serious disturbances to individuals' mental health, to families, social groups and to the fundaments of societies. It is well-documented that early, timely and adequate responses and interventions may ameliorate mental suffering and functioning of individuals, families and groups. In this article, a psychoanalytically based approach, Psychoanalytic Field Work, mental health work with persons exposed to HRV, is demonstrated. Basic disturbances of severely traumatized persons are described. It is argued that work with basic dynamics of traumatized persons informed by psychoanalytic understanding and therapy can be used in Psychoanalytic Field Work with traumatized refugees and their families in different contexts where refugees live during and after flight, like formal or informal shelters, reception centers or refugee camps.