Family Therapy in Global Humanitarian Contexts

This book brings together a diverse set of clinicians, scholars, and researchers actively using systemic family therapy ideas within the context of ongoing or recent humanitarian intervention. The contributions focus on critical issues specific to the practice of family therapy within global mental health contexts, with a particular attention to the humanitarian sphere. Issues covered include treatment across cultures and language barriers, work in settings with covert and overt threats, practice in low-resource situations, and the creation of a family therapy program that relates to peace-building, reconciliation, and post-war discourse. The diverse group of authors contributes practical information and content specific to the training, supervision and/or delivery of family-based services, and offer specific principles and recommendations for family therapy practitioners and researchers.

Laurie L. Charlés, PhD, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and qualitative researcher based in the U.S., Assistant Professor in the Family Couple & Individual Psychotherapy (FCIP) program at Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas, USA., and subject matter expert/trainer in family therapy with two psychotherapeutic interventions courses sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) in MENA. A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Togo, 1999-2001), Dr. Charlés earned a PhD in Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University (1999) and a M.A. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University (2013). She has been the recipient of numerous research grants including the Fulbright-Hays Senior Research Scholar Award (2010-2011) at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Faculty of Graduate Studies. 

Gameela Samarasinghe, PhD, is a clinical psychologist by training and is an Associate Professor in Psychology in the Department of Sociology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. She initiated the design of and introduced the Postgraduate Diploma and Master's in Counselling and Psychosocial Support at the Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo. She is the Coordinator of both programs. She was a member of the international research team on 'Trauma, Peace building and Development', run from the University of Ulster. She has written extensively on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in Sri Lanka. She has been awarded many fellowships and has been the recipient of research grants including the Fulbright-Hays Senior Research Scholar Award (2004 - 2005) at Boston University and the Fulbright Advanced Research Award (2013 - 2014) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.