Center for Survivors of Torture

Caregiver's Corner Archive

Creating Healing Spaces In Your Office

At CST we have learned a lot about what each person serving survivors of torture can do to create a relaxing environment for survivors. Whether you are a doctor, lawyer, or social worker, there are some basic concepts you can follow to make a space where survivors can relax, heal, and work better with you.

The first impression of being homey and professional is important ? try to achieve a feeling that?s both homey and professional. The Dallas home office of Center for Survivors of Torture is in an old blue house on a residential street. When our clients arrive they have often left behind family and friends and the warmth and comfort of home seems very far away. Our Central Texas Outreach Center is located on a major bus thoroughfare and close to many other needed services. It has an Austin-funky painted eagle on the front which the clients say makes them feel safe and protected here in the United States.

One of our first priorities is to create a physically and emotionally accessible space where clients can relax, take a deep breath work through the trauma they experienced, and begin to see a brighter future. Because major symptoms of torture-induced PTSD are avoidance and depression, just coming to get help is sometimes a major ordeal. Meeting and working with a variety of caregivers, having the physical and mental scars examined, can be overwhelming.

Hospitality is a basic tenet of most cultures. When you offer hospitality in the form of a bottle of water, a bite to eat for a hungry client, or a soft seat in which to relax, you have shown great friendship. A warm mug of herbal tea can relax clients by providing comfort as well as the benefits of aroma therapy.

Sharing a meal together takes the hospitality to the next level. North Texas Client Care Coordinator Rena Taylor experiences the sharing of culture and friendship when accepting invitations to share meals in the clients? homes and accept their hospitality. Cooking together can form a permanent bond as Celia VanDeGraaf, Central Texas Client Care Coordinator, can attest from the Thanksgiving meals cooked at CST in Austin.

?Many cultures prefer bows to handshakes,? acknowledges CST?s Clinical Director, Manuel Balbona. ?It shows respect, especially to the elders. But, it is also a way to acknowledge respect for the commitment and experiences of the survivor. The respect serves to help the survivors heal from the anti-human treatment they received.?

Clients come from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. In serving survivors of torture, cultural competency is of the utmost importance. Interns spend part of their time in developing cultural competency through researching cultures, countries, and religions. In preparing to meet with a client it is helpful to read through any information available about your client?s religious beliefs, country of origin and cultural practices. Educating yourself about the political, social and economic situations, warring parties and the government structures in the client?s country of origin can be invaluable. Learning about the type of conflict your client has experienced helps you to begin working with clients where they are.

?You learn all that you can, and then you let go,? said Rev. Sharmin DeMoss, Assistant Director and Chaplain at CST. ?Clients have been tortured in their own cultures and may not maintain cultural practices. They may be attached to or running away from their old political, social, ethnic, or religious affiliations.?

Furniture and space design can make the difference in the client feeling at relaxed and sharing important information, or being nervous and having difficulty remembering or speaking. A few basic principles can open communication. While it is important for helping professionals to appear competent to clients, it is also important to remember that the primary responsibility is caring for the client.

First, whenever possible, design space that does not cause clients to feel claustrophobic as they often did during confinement. Windows should be accessible and offer a view of the sky, trees, or grass. Doors should never be blocked or locked with the survivor inside. Outside seating can be helpful, but only use it for private sessions if it offers appropriate confidentiality. Is your entrance/exit visible and easily accessible?

Second, it is best never to put a desk between you and the client. Separating yourself from the client with a table or desk may create a dynamic of superiority that reminds survivors of the torture. Avoid the ?power desk? in the middle of the room and opt for the against the wall version with a seating area and different types of seating from which survivors may choose. We also recommend using light or warm-colored, soft, well-worn fabrics and cushions that still have good support. Is your seating comfortable for clients of different heights, weights, and injuries to use for an hour or more?

Third, confidentiality is of the utmost importance to both clients and helping professionals. The Center for Victims of Torture in Minneapolis, MN places white noise machines outside each session room to reduce the possibility of overhearing confidential conversations. If you want the client to learn trust, they must expect and receive appropriate confidentiality. Do your offices or meeting rooms offer privacy and assurance of confidentiality?

Fourth, both bare or sterile walls and excessive clutter can create discomfort in torture survivors. Make sure your meeting space is homey, but reduce excess clutter. Use a variety of interesting and calming art, photographs, and objects from other cultures to bring tranquility to the space. Art and photos can help start a conversation that is more comfortable and friendly. What images or objects do you use to set the client?s mind at ease?

Fifth, fragrances like peppermint, chamomile, and vanilla, used in small amounts, can evoke a positive, relaxed, or warm mood. Because culture and experience vary widely, it is best to check with clients before and during use of aroma therapy to be sure that they are experiencing good thoughts and feelings. Are there scents that evoke fond memories of better times for your clients?

Finally, anxiety, nerves, and flashbacks can cause the body to overheat or produce a cold sweat quickly. Keep the office slightly cool and have wraps or lightweight blankets available if clients get chilly. It is easier to help a client warm up than it is to cool down in a warm room. Do you have a light wrap available?

The initial greeting and appearance of your office or meeting space set the tone for working with clients. Creating a welcoming and healing space does not require grand gestures; rather it is reflected in the details. Greeting clients warmly, offering them a drink and reflecting your knowledge of cultural diversity may help clients to feel safe with you. Attention to the openness of the space, the images or objects on display, and the comfort of the furniture will help clients to be physically relaxed.

This article appeared in the May issue of the CST Newsletter, In the News. Coming up in our next issue, look for tips and information about how to make your office a family and child friendly space.