Refugees who sought safety in Jordan survived highly traumatic events, including witnessing death, kidnappings, bombings, and rape. They experience on-going physical, mental and emotional challenges. Relationships are strained and families are torn apart. Many have lost everything.

Our healing initiative in Amman, Jordan began in 2008 to help highly traumatized Iraqi refugees suffering from the effects of torture and war trauma.

We provide mental health services to Iraqi clients of all ages. Our psychotherapeutic services, which are provided by professional clinical staff, as well as trained Jordanian and Iraqi psychosocial counselors, reduce high levels of distress and help clients to function more effectively in their families and communities. Follow-up assessments are conducted at 1, 3, 6, and 12 month intervals to monitor each client’s progress. Improvement is both statistically significant and meaningful with reductions in depression, anxiety and somatic symptoms, and an increase in the number of supportive relationships. After receiving care from CVT, clients consistently report increased hope, better coping skills and improved relationships.

We conduct home visits to support and educate family members. Physical therapy helps survivors alleviate the physical pain of torture, and our social services ensure refugees’ needs are being met.

We also build local mental health resources by creating specialized trauma treatment skills in a cadre of Jordanian and Iraqi mental health staff. Our intensive training is focused on trauma treatment, with Jordanian and Iraqi staff learning alongside CVT psychotherapists.  These counselors provide culturally appropriate care and can continue to act as mental health services providers, advocates and educators long after our work in Jordan is completed.

CVT’s work in Jordan is made possible with support from the State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.

PHOTO: UNHCR/P. Sands. An Iraqi refugee looks out over Amman. Of the estimated two million Iraqis who have fled their homeland, some 700,000 are currently sheltering in Jordan, with the majority living in Amman.