65th Annual Conference
Thursday, February
21
Morning Open
Sessions
10:00
A.M.-1:15P.M.
Session
302
The
Treatment of Political Persecution: Victims, Perpetrators and
Organizational Responses
Chair:
Harold Bernard,
Ph.D., ABPP, CGP, DFAGPA, Clinical Associate Professor of
Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
Panelists:
Michael Gelles, Psy.D.,
Consulting Psychologist, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Leanh Nguyen, Ph.D., Senior Psychologist, Program for
Survivors of Torture, Bellevue/New York University School of
Medicine, New York, New York
Nina Thomas, Ph.D., ABPP, CGP, Co-Chair, Relational
Orientation, NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and
Psychoanalysis, New York, New York
Discussant:
Howard D. Kibel, M.D., CGP, DFAGPA,
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, New York Medical College, New
York, New York
Political
persecution is ubiquitous in today's world. Americans are victims at
times, and perpetrators at other times. The psychological
consequences of political persecution can be severe. This panel will
explore the psychological sequelae of political persecution,
including torture, address what we know about treatment, and take up
such issues as organizational responses, the consequences of
silence, and the treatment of prisoners during interrogations. Brief
initial presentations will be followed by a demonstration group, and
then open discussion.
Learning
Objectives:
The attendee will be able to:
1. Appreciate how helpers can actually
re-traumatize rather than ameliorate the effects of political
persecution.
2. Understand how group dynamics can distort rather than clarify the
perception of the enemy.
3. Appreciate the insidious effect of remaining silent in the face
of political persecution.
Course References:
1. Basoglu, M.
(1992)
Torture and its Consequences: Current Treatment Approaches.
New York: Cambridge University Press.
2. Cohen, S. (2001)
States of Denial: Knowing about Atrocities and
Suffering. Cambridge (UK): Polity Press.
3. Samuels, A. (2001)
Politics on the Couch: Citizenship and the
Internal Life. New York: Other Press. |
