Mario Gonzalez

Mario Gonzalez

Mario Gonzalez, clinical supervisor for the Marjorie Kolver Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture, Chicago, says that "people from Arabic countries often experience cardiac pain as an expression of their anxiety."4 Husam Al-Athari, MD, who treats Iraqi refugees at George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, observes: "Whenever Iraqi refugees struggle emotionally, they tend to exhibit symptoms physically, such as headaches and stomachaches, so we find out about them first in the non-psychiatric medical setting."5
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Mario Gonzalez is quoted in "A Cry for Help: Refugee Mental Health in the United States," which can be found at www.refugees.org/world/ articles/mentalhlth rr97 9.htm.

Mario GonzalezClinical Director The Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture

"Many clients were calling, people whose cases were already closed, who had received psychological services for years," says Mario Gonzalez, a Kovler psychologist and one of Fabri's colleagues.
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"Anytime you start to disclose, you run the risk of flashbacks," Gonzalez says.

In flashbacks, survivors re-live the torture as if it actually were happening.

Mario Gonzalez, clinical supervisor for the Marjorie Kolver Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture, Chicago, says that "people from Arabic countries often experience cardiac pain as an expression of their anxiety."4 Husam AlAthari, MD, who treats Iraqi refugees at George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, observes: "Whenever Iraqi refugees struggle emotionally, they tend to exhibit symptoms physically, such as headaches and stomachaches, so we find out about them first in the non-psychiatric medical setting."5
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4. Mario Gonzalez is quoted in "A Cry for Help: Refugee Mental Health in the United States," which can be found at www.refugees.org/ world/ articles/mentalhlth rr97 9.htm.

5. Husam AI-Althari is quoted in "A Cry for Help."

Mario Gonzalez in honor of The Marjorie Kovler Center

Mario GonzalezClinical DirectorThe Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture

This variation also affects the recovery process, in which a trusting relationship is built with a clinician, said Mario Gonzalez, clinical supervisor for the Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture (Kovler Center), which treats survivors of state-sponsored torture in Chicago.

"Physical symptoms include lack of concentration, memory problems, disturbed sleep, shaking, and so on," said Gonzalez."Many will also exhibit somatic symptoms, the expression of which is often culturally determined.For example, people from Arabic countries often experience cardiac pain as an expression of their anxiety."

Dr. Husam Al-Athari, who treats Iraqi refugees at George Washington University Medical Center, concurred with Gonzalez, saying that nearly all his patients exhibited somatic symptoms reflective of emotional or psychological problems.
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To treat survivors of torture, you need to provide a safe environment and a relationship of trust," said Gonzalez of the Kovler Center.

The western model of psychotherapy is based on individual therapy and an understanding of oneself apart from society.For many refugee populations, this individualistic perspective is foreign.

This variation also affects the recovery process, in which a trusting relationship is built with a clinician, said Mario Gonzalez, clinical supervisor for the Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture (Kovler Center), which treats survivors of state-sponsored torture in Chicago.

"Physical symptoms include lack of concentration, memory problems, disturbed sleep, shaking, and so on," said Gonzalez."Many will also exhibit somatic symptoms, the expression of which is often culturally determined.For example, people from Arabic countries often experience cardiac pain as an expression of their anxiety."

Dr. Husam Al-Athari, who treats Iraqi refugees at George Washington University Medical Center, concurred with Gonzalez, saying that nearly all his patients exhibited somatic symptoms reflective of emotional or psychological problems.
...
To treat survivors of torture, you need to provide a safe environment and a relationship of trust," said Gonzalez of the Kovler Center.

The western model of psychotherapy is based on individual therapy and an understanding of oneself apart from society.