Variations in Therapeutic Interventions for Cambodian and Chilean Refugee Survivors of Torture and Trauma: A Pilot Study

The treatment of refugee survivors of torture and trauma has attracted increasing clinical attention. The present study surveyed therapists concerning the emphasis that was placed on disclosure of previous traumatic experiences in therapy with refugees from Chile and Cambodia. Significant differences were found between the two groups with trauma story discussion being judged by therapists to be more important to treatment outcome in Chilean patients. The problem of potential therapist bias limits definitive conclusions, however we suggest that differences in cultural preparedness for psychotherapy aimed at uncovering previous traumatic experiences may be the main reason for variations in styles of therapy offered to these distinctive ethnic groups. Other possible explanations are differences in diagnostic profiles and types of previous traumatic experiences.

The Lack of Efficacy in Language Therapy

Five factors are identified as contributing to the lack of efficacy in the management of a language-disordered child. The fragmentation of language into discrete points during testing and therapy, therapist bias, acquiescence, lack of follow-up, and bureaucratic policies and procedures are found to contribute to this therapeutic failure. Solutions to each of these contributing factors are discussed.