Holding, containing and bearing witness: The problem of helpfulness in encounters with torture survivors

Abstract

Presentations of extreme distress following horrific and traumatic experiences tend to evoke a powerful wish to be helpful and an associated fear of impotence. Helping activity, while not in itself unreasonable in appropriate circumstances can nevertheless serve the needs of the worker more than those of the client and obscure the more fundamental desire for holding, containing and bearing witness. This case is argued with special reference to work with victims of torture and organised violence.