Complex/multiple traumatisation and complex loss can cause people fleeing war to become highly dysregulated, lose trust in life and sense of self, be unable to relax, sleep or engage in life, due to powerful flashbacks and intrusive bad memories, and get physically ill from the impact of extreme overwhelm and loss. How do we work in psychotherapy with people who are very easily re-traumatised and have no secure base?  Using anonymised case examples from Refugee Resource, I will describe how we can help people to come into the present, process extreme trauma and start to live again, even while they may be homeless, do not know where family members are and/or do not know if they will be allowed to live safely in the UK.

Sushila Dhall has been working as a psychotherapist for 27 years, and has worked for the NHS, privately, and for Refugee Resource in the Counselling Service for 21 years. She is also a trainer and supervisor.