Mutual empowerment in the treatment of torture and other war trauma survivors: a personal reflection

Abstract

Practitioners from developed countries who travel to developing nations to teach theories and methods of treatment would do well to consider that the most important aspects of their work have to do more with the relationships they form than with the information they dispense. We all have much to learn from each other. Mutual empowerment benefits all. Consequently, as much effort should be made to arrange time for relationship as for formal instruction. The expectations of those teaching and those taught, however, will have to be acknowledged for true mutual empowerment to take place.