The testimony method was found to be an effective tool for helping a group of humanitarian aid workers, injured in a bomb blast and undergoing treatment in a medical facility in the first few days following the event, to begin to access and process traumatic memories. The testimony method provided a safe structure to recall the traumatic event, while assisting in the reconstruction of the traumatic memories and associated emotions, and offered an acceptable motivation to do so. The testimonies proved to be of further use to family members and colleagues of those directly affected by the blast.
Cienfuegos, A. J., & Monelli, C. (1983). The testimony of political repression as a therapeutic instrument. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 53(1), 43-51.
2.
Durst, N. (2000, July). About the work with video-testimonies at AMCHA. Trauma Research Newsletter, 1. Hamburg Institute for Social Research.
3.
Dyregov, A. (1989). Caring for helpers in disaster situations: Psychological debriefing. Disaster Management, 2(1) 25-30.
4.
Laub, D. (2000, July). Not knowing is an active process of destruction: Why the testimonial procedure is of so much importance. Trauma Research Newsletter, 1. Hamburg Institute for Social Research.
5.
Litz, B. T., Gray, M. J., Bryant, R. A., & Adler, A. B. (2002). Early intervention for trauma: Current status and future directions. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 9, 112-134.
6.
McNally, R. J., Bryant, R. A., & Ehlers, A. (2003). Does early psychological intervention promote recovery from posttraumatic stress? Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 4(2), 45-79.
7.
Mitchell, J. T., & Everly, G. S. (1993). Critical Incident Stress Debriefing: An operational manual for the prevention of traumatic stress among emergency services and disaster workers. Ellicott City, MD: Chevron Publishing Corporation.
8.
Mitchell, J. T. (2003). Crisis intervention & CISM: A research summary. www.icisf.org
9.
Schauer, M. (2000, July). Evaluation of Testimony Therapy for survivors of severe human rights violations. Trauma Research Newsletter, 1. Hamburg Institute for Social Research.
10.
Van der Veer, G. (1988). Politieke vluchtelingen. Psychische problemen en de gevolgen van onderdrukking en ballingschap. Nijkerk: Uitgeverij Intro.
