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VICTIM SUPPORT:Debriefing, Desensitization, Eidetic Therapy, Narrative Therapy

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Forensic Psychology (PSY - 513)
VU
Lesson 40
VICTIM SUPPORT
Objectives
To introduce with different ranges of supportive therapies
To acquaint with the use of Eidetic therapy for victim support
To know about the different use of narrative therapy
Supportive Therapies
Debriefing
Another technique used to provide support to victims is debriefing or psychological debriefing that is
semi-structured conversation with an individual who has experienced a stressful or traumatic event. In
most cases, the purpose of debriefing is to reduce any possibility of psychological harm by informing
people about their experience or allowing them to talk about it.
Desensitization
It is human psychology that avoidance of situation wires in persistence of problem, desensitization is a
process for reducing the harmful psychological effects of traumas. It also occurs when an emotional
response is repeatedly evoked in situations in which the psychological problems that is associated with
the traumatic event of crime proves irrelevant or unnecessary.
Eidetic Therapy
Eidetic Image Therapy is an innovative approach to psychotherapy that uses a special type of mental
image called eidetic to get problem areas quickly and generate insight and growth.
The eidetic is a powerful personal image that's seen in the mind like a movie or film strip. According to
Dr. Ahsan Akhtar we all have the ability of eidetic imagery. Every image has some bodily energy
linked. It contains a detailed record of all important life experiences and is neurologically stored in the
brain for future reference. When recalled, the eidetic recreates a vivid experience of events and conflicts
with all of the basic elements intact: the visual picture of the event, the physical and emotional feelings
associated with it and the meaning or significance it contains.
Through a step by step process, Eidetic Therapy enables you to see significant life experiences from
different points of view, examine them from an enhanced perspective, and allow the solutions that
resolve longstanding problems to become clear.
Imagery is an important tool in the Dr. Akhtar Ahsan's rapportire of eidetic therapy. So how do we
come to know that which image is causing the problem. This problem is solved by the use of eidetic
parent test, as most of childhood traumas create problems for us. But when we use this therapy for
victim support, revisit of the traumatic event that is bothering the client is not a difficult at all. But to
revisit the trauma is not appropriate in first few sessions so most of the time in victim support this is
avoided rather than client is asked to revisit the positive events from childhood.
Kinesthetic imagery
Kinesthetic imagery is another important dimension of eidetic therapy, imagery of touch and feeling in
terms of temperature (chill or hot imagery). This is highly effective in forensic settings as victim is not
required to visualize the trauma rather has to focus on the physical sensations in terms of temperature
during that traumatic experience ( were you feeling hot or cold?). and Dr. Akkhtar Ahsan reports that
people report in very deep surface.
So now the question is what intervention technique is adopted? Therapist helps in changing the
temperature of that kinesthetic image. Like therapist would ask client to close eyes and focus on the
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Forensic Psychology (PSY - 513)
VU
temperature and then try to reverse the polarity. If a client reports he was feeling very cold almost fozen
while robber placed his gun on my forehead. Therapist might ask him imagine that you are sitting in
front of heater and room is becoming warm and comfortable. Eidetic therapy is found to be very
effective and creative therapy.
Psychodynamic Therapy
We have discussed this in detail already in whish we do not only make interpretation but also hold the
victim in a very safe environment.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Clients wrong believe are challenged in a very empathetic way by making positive compliments and
praise. Like usually victim has the wrong believe of why me? Therapist challenge such believes and
inquires about evidences but with great care and tactics. They are told that they are not alone even they
are better than many other victims who have suffered even bitter traumas.
Narrative Therapy
We have talked much about this therapy in the context of criminals or those who have constant problem
with law or violent people with negative developed stories but in victim support we have people who
generally have positive stories but a specific incident of crime have changed their perception. Some
time victim has a very positive and creative life before that particular trauma but then developed PTSD.
And start having perceptions what ever I do bad things happen at the end. Narrative therapist would sit
down with him/her and firstly try to understand the negative story concocted. Story that narrates success
in beginning and then disaster, achievement in start and then adversity.
While working with offenders narrative therapist encounters the state where his clients has nothing
positive in life so help them to re-author their scripts but in victim support therapy re-sequence the
successes in the beginning and disaster at the end into hardship in the start and accomplishments
at the end, With the help of complements and questions.
Self-Esteem problems
Victims of more hideous crimes like rape e.t.c, experience the immense lack in self worth/self
evaluation and self esteem.
Male victims and female victims differ in problems like if a man is raped his "manhood" is badly
effected by this trauma so self esteem squash badly.
Female victims can encounter adverse family reactions if married husband can divorce and if unmarried
can receive obscurity in getting married and even if get married can have ambivalent feelings with her
for through out the life.
Whether victims of violence or rape self esteem boosting therapies are essential elements
.
Self-Esteem & Therapy
How to boost self-esteem?
In identity national, social, cultural, familial and self identity is involved, like ethnic identities
Lahori or Peshawiri. But self esteem comes through achievements.
·  Fulfillment comes through achievement
·  Achievement comes through action
·  Action comes from motivation
Self esteem lowers in response to hideous crimes and humiliation involved
Skills training and achievement based programs can help boost self-esteem.
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-Activities are designed with great care to help victim and when client achieves success in
doing those activities, boost in self esteem is a result.
-Questions are asked to provide an opportunity of catharsis
-Compliments are used for encouragements.
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Table of Contents:
  1. INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY:Future of Forensic Psychology
  2. INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC PSYCHOOGY:Way of police investigation
  3. FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY AND POLICE:Violent Criminals
  4. POLICE PSYCHOLOGY:Use of excessive force, Corruption, Personnel Selection
  5. POLICE PSYCHOLOGY:Fitness-for-Duty Evaluation (FFDE), False Confessions
  6. INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY:For instance, Empirical and logical approach
  7. INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY:Crime Scene Investigation, Staging
  8. PSYCHOLOGY OF VIOLENCE:Law of Conservation of Energy, Super ego
  9. PSYCHOANALYTIC MODEL AND VIOLENCE:Fixation at Oral Stage
  10. PSYCHOANALYTIC MODEL AND VIOLENCE:Defense Mechanism, Rationalization
  11. JUNGIAN PSYCHOLOGY AND VIOLENCE:Freudian Methods, JUNGIAN PSYCHOLOGY
  12. JUNGIAN PSYCHOLOGY AND VIOLENCE:Religion and mental illnesses
  13. BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE AND VIOLENCE:Shadow’s violence, Child’s violence
  14. BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE AND VIOLENCE:Operant Conditioning
  15. BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE AND VIOLENCE:Schedules of Punishment
  16. SOCIAL LEARNING MODEL AND VIOLENCE:Observational learning, Vicarious punishment
  17. MORAL DEVELOPMENT AND VIOLENCE:Symbolic functioning, Formal operational stage
  18. BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL MODEL:Mental hospitals are factories of abuse
  19. ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ABOUT VIOLENCE:Morality is essential
  20. ISLAMIC MODEL:Nafs al-Ammara, Nafs al-Lawwama, Nafs ul Naatiqa
  21. TREATMENTS FOR THE SOUL:Tawba, Sabr o Shukr, Niyyat o Ikhlaas, Taffakkur
  22. CRIMINOGENIC PERSONALITY:Personality Disorders, Common Crimes
  23. CRIMINOGENIC PERSONALITY AND VIOLENCE:Mnemonic, Similarities
  24. CRIMINOGENIC PERSONALITY AND VIOLENCE:Terrorism and Psychopaths
  25. LEARNING DISABILITIES/MENTAL RETARDATION AND VIOLENCE
  26. ASSESSMENT OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS:Reasons for referral, Personality Inventories
  27. ASSESSMENT OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS:Different cutoff scores
  28. RISK ASSESSMENT:Violence reduction scale, Stability of Family upbringing
  29. TREATMENT OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR / PERSONALITY PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
  30. JUNGINA THERAPEUTIC MODEL:Limits of re-parenting, Personality Typologies
  31. GROUP THERAPY FOR OFFENDERS:Learning in Groups, Humanistic Groups
  32. PSYCHOTHERAPIES IN FORENSIC SETTINGS:Narrative Therapy
  33. PSYCHOTHERAPIES IN FORENSIC SETTINGS:Solution Focused Therapy
  34. PSYCHOTHERAPIES IN FORENSIC SETTINGS:Avoiding reactance, Externalization
  35. PSYCHOTHERAPY IN FORENSIC SETTINGS AND SPECIAL CHALLENGES
  36. FORENSIC PSYCHOTHERAPY:Exploring therapeutic alliance, Music Therapy
  37. VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROGRAM:Target Population, Lack of motivation
  38. VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROGRAM:Criminal attitude, Interpersonal Aggression
  39. VICTIM SUPPORT:Main features of PTSD, Emotional Support
  40. VICTIM SUPPORT:Debriefing, Desensitization, Eidetic Therapy, Narrative Therapy
  41. SUBSTANCE MISUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM:Marijuana, Unconventional drugs
  42. SUBSTANCE MISUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM:Stages of Change, Homosexuality
  43. EXPERT WITNESS:Insanity Pleas, Sexual Offence Risk, Instructions
  44. COUNTER TERRORISM:Misconceptions, Psychologists & Propaganda war
  45. SUMMING UP FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY:Problems with Risk Assessment, Expert Witness