The chronic traumatic stress treatment (Cts-t): A resilience-focused, culturally responsive intervention for refugees and survivors of torture-including a mobile mental health application

Abstract

This manuscript introduces the Chronic Traumatic Stress-Treatment for refugees and survivors of torture (CTS-Treatment; Mazzulla & Fondacaro, 2018). CTS-Treatment aligns with the Chronic Traumatic Stress model (CTS; Fondacaro & Mazulla, 2018), a biopsychosocial-spiritual and culturally responsive theoretical framework designed to guide empirical investigation and intervention for refugees and survivors of torture. CTS-Treatment is intended for use by mental health clinicians working within an individual or group format. The ten modules of CTSTreatment are in sequence; however, flexibility and cultural adaptations in implementation are strongly encouraged. The ten intervention modules include: 1) Mental Health Discussion, 2) Safety, 3) Values, 4) Behavioral Activation, 5) Coping Skills, 6) Sleep Hygiene, 7) Working with Thoughts, 8) Acceptance and Tolerance of Emotions, 9) Life-Path Exercise and Narrative Exposure, and 10) Celebration of Life. Empirical principles underlying the treatment, along with supporting research, are presented for each module. The final sections of modules one through nine explain a component of a language-free mobile mental health application for refugees. The tenth module is a celebration and does not include an affiliated mHealth component. Clients are encouraged to practice the mHealth app skills at the end of each session and between sessions.