Trauma-informed intercultural group supervision

ABSTRACT

Trauma-informed group supervision is a novel way of providing much-needed supervision to trauma helpers. We describe a structured group supervision method originally developed for Western trauma supervisors. Core features of the method are two identification rounds: first, identification with the client as a person and, second, identification with the position of the case presenter. We explain why we designed this structured identification approach and elaborate its main features. This method has been applied in many intercultural contexts and post-conflict regions of the world. Finally, we formulate some basics of intercultural application and contracting for group supervision.

KEYWORDS:

• Group supervision
• trauma-informed supervision
• intercultural supervision
• structured group work

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anthony Haans

Anthony Haans was a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist from 1976 to 2003 for Centrum ’45, a Dutch treatment center for politically traumatized people from the World War II, veterans, and recent refugees. Since 2003 he has worked as a trainer and survivor at the Center ÜBERLEBEN in Berlin, Doctors Without Borders, and the War Trauma Foundation. He participates in international supervision courses in Georgia and Ukraine.

Nora Balke

Nora Balke is psychologist/psychotherapist, supervisor, active since 2002 at the Center ÜBERLEBEN (formerly Berlin Center for Torture Victims). She is head of supervision trainings in Berlin, trainer in different European countries within diverse European Union (EU) projects, provides supervision training in Dnjepropetrowsk and Kiev, and was head of supervision trainings in Tbilisi 2014–2015.