OUR
PHILOSOPHY & APPROACH
The PSOT is unique in its comprehensive, interdisciplinary
approach. Our therapeutic team comprises physicians, psychologists,
psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, administrative staff,
community liaisons, and volunteers such as English teachers
and client chaperones. Additionally, health professionals
in training, including: medical students and residents,
psychiatry residents, psychology interns and externs, and
social work interns participate in our program’s clinical
and research activities. We emphasize comprehensive care,
by which we consider patients within the context of their
total experience and circumstances, to provide well-informed
treatment planning and useful therapeutic services.
Working as a multidisciplinary team enables us to offer
clients comprehensive services, continuity of care, and
a diversity of perspectives. We have found that the medical,
mental health, social and legal difficulties clients face
are typically interrelated. For example, a client experiencing
chronic physical pain that is organic in nature as a result
of his or her torture (a medical problem) may be constantly
reminded of their abuse and unable to focus on anything
other than traumatic memories (a mental health problem.)
A client facing homelessness (a social problem) may experience
stronger feelings of hopelessness and despair and an increase
in suicidal ideation (a mental health problem). Our Program
operates from the premise that our clients are individuals
with resources and assets that helped them survive the traumatic
events that they experienced and that can be mobilized to
help them as they rebuild their lives in the United States.
If given support and relief from immediate stressors, most
survivors can mobilize their inherent capacities for adjusting,
healing and coping.
When individuals are accepted into the program, treatment
plans are developed based on their stated needs, as well
as based on clinical assessment of their functioning. For
example, some individuals come to the program without knowledge
or familiarity with Western notions of psychotherapy. For
these clients, the choice of group therapy is a more comfortable
setting for addressing their psychological stress. Similarly,
in individual therapy, therapists at the Bellevue Program
are sensitive to addressing the clients’ stated priorities
– even if those are likely to encompass concrete issues
such as housing, asylum, and work status – rather
than having an “agenda” of revisiting traumatic
events. There are also clients who are clear that they are
not seeking psychotherapy of any kind. Operating from a
client-centered philosophy, we view the client’s own
assessment of their needs as paramount to planning effective
care.
This diverse team approach to the treatment of torture survivors
and traumatized refugees can remain effective as long as
the team members hold certain principles in common. Service
providers at PSOT respect the sanctity of each human being’s
mind, body, and spirit. We share a sincere commitment to
helping people recover from human rights abuses in a way
that is empowering and sustainable. We work in a context
of mutual respect and emphasize open communication among
disciplines. We advocate the promotion of human rights issues,
and share our insights and experiences through professional
trainings, program publications, and other public exchanges.
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