Therapeutic Work

Supporting refugees to work through their emotions and relieve distress.

RTI has extensive experience in providing therapeutic support for refugees and asylum seekers who have recently arrived in Europe. Based on the learning and success of our programmes and on continued need, RTI has upscaled its therapeutic services.

Our therapists are experienced and trained in cultural awareness and sensitivity and have relevant language skills to work with groups in the mother tongue of their members. Through our therapeutic groups, our members and therapists bridge the gaps between mental health and human rights.   

COVID-19 exacerbated mental health issues among refugees due to isolation and the withdrawal of many existing NGO services as a result of safety measures and lockdowns. As a result, in May 2020 RTI launched an online pilot therapeutic group for male refugees.  Feedback from group members about its impact has been overwhelmingly positive. It has proved to be an incredibly powerful space for trauma holding, psychoeducation work, and community building. 

Therapeutic groups are varied and respond to the needs of those who form the group. Groups may use talking, or creative methods like dance and movement to promote emotional healing, stabilisation and emotional regulation.

Referral organisations can download explanatory posters for talking and creative groups in English, Dari and Arabic.

Get to know our therapists through our page here.