DUSHANBE, November 9, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A three-day seminar formally titled “Use of Psychological Approach in Work with Victims of Violence” was held in Dushanbe on November 6-8.

Organized within the framework of the Gender Program of the Tajik Branch of the Open Society/Assistance Foundation (OSI/AF-Tajikistan), the training brought together psychologists from crisis and resource centers from all regions of the country, as well as lecturers at Tajik National University and Khujand State University to consider key notions such as threat-fear, destruction-trauma and loss-grief as well as issues related to functioning of family system, structural approach to families, psychology of brutal treatment and violence, etc.

According to the OSI/AF-Tajikistan, the main objective of the training was in promoting formation of skills of work with victims of violence through psychological consultations.     

The psychosocial approach is a new approach for psychologists working with victims of violence.  This approach involves understanding a person''s internal psychological processes as a result of violence as well as how these processes interact with one''s current social and physical conditions.