Justice as a healing factor : psycho-legal counseling for torture survivors in an Indian context
Among professionals working with the rehabilitation of torture survivors, discussions are ongoing about the most appropriate methods for psychological assistance to the survivors in different geopolitical contexts. This article is a preliminary descriptive and exploratory study of psycho-legal counseling—a counseling method employed by the Indian human rights organization, Jananeethi, in its assistance to survivors of torture.
Author: Agger, Inger | Ansari, Faritha | Suresh, Sandhya | Pulikuthiyil, George
RCT Author: Inger Agger
Source: Peace and conflict: journal of peace
psychology ; vol. 14, no. 3
"Justice" is the entry point in psycho-legal
counseling where the law is used as a therapeutic agent. Phases in
the psycho-legal counseling process are identified
(reaching out to survivors, being with survivors, empowerment
through legal education, mediation, seeking justice, and advocacy).
A preliminary inquiry into the impact of this counseling method was
made through interviews with 13 survivors of police torture who had
received psycho-legal counseling. Strengths and
limitations of the psycho-legal counseling approach
are discussed, and recommendations for further development of this
method are made.