Working with Bosnian Medical Evacuees and their Families: Therapeutic Dilemmas

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Abstract
This article outlines some key elements of therapeutic work with a group of Bosnian medical evacuees and their families. The unusual feature of this work has been the fact that the clients had not requested any psychological assistance and the therapist had to adapt to this fact and develop ways of dealing with it. The approach followed emphasizes the importance of ‘therapeutic presence’ instead of imposing formal psychotherapy, and is characterized by an avoidance of psychologizing the evil nature of war atrocities and pathologizing political dimensions. Six central dilemmas which therapists and clients face in connection with this type of work are identified and discussed, and suggestions are offered for developing appropriate therapeutic strategies in these contexts.

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