When purposefully and repeatedly inflicted wounds remain invisible, they are even more devastating. A person who is tortured is annihilated to the point that personal, social, and cultural differences are no longer relevant. That is the goal of torture. This article describes psychotherapy with involuntary immigrants, some of them victims of torture, as part of the project “Invisible Wounds” in the Caritas Diocese of Rome. The project's goal is to recognize, welcome, heal, and offer these persons the opportunity to rediscover themselves as individuals who are entitled to fulfilling lives. A case example demonstrates the therapy process, from diagnosis through a comprehensive analysis of the treatment phases, according to transactional analysis constructs. The carefully constructed context, work groups, and social network in which this work is carried out is described.

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Article
An Ethnopsychiatric Approach to Healing Trauma in Involuntary Immigrants and Torture Victims: A Clinical Case
Pages 272-284
Published online: 28 Dec 2017