DUSHANBE, October 1, 2010, Asia-Plus -- Issues related to use of psychosocial approach in work with victims of violence is a major topic of a five-day seminar that has opened in Dushanbe today.

Organized within the framework of the Gender Program of the Tajik Branch of the Open Society/Assistance Foundation (OSI/AF-Tajikistan), the meeting is the last of series of seminars on this subject conducted in 2009-2010.

The training that will last till October 5 has brought together 15 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 problems of domestic violence against children, violence against children in schools, methods of work with victims of violence, etc.

According to the OSI/AF-Tajikistan, the main objective of these training seminars is in promoting formation of skills of work with victims of violence through psychological consultations.  The seminars are dedicated to train and set up national teams of psychologist trainers on work with violence victims.

18 crisis and recourse centers and three branches of them now operate in Tajikistan to provide support to victims of violence.  The centers make available psychological, social and legal support and additional services (computer courses, housekeeping courses and so forth) to victims of violence.

Psychosocial support is an approach to victims of disaster, catastrophe or violence to foster resilience of communities and individuals. It aims at easing resumption of normal life, facilitate affected people participation to their convalescence and preventing pathological consequences of potentially traumatic situations.

The psychosocial approach in work with victims of violence 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.