The research on pastoral counseling of persons struggling with complex trauma was undertaken with the aim of designing a practice-orientated model for pastoral counseling in order to guide such persons to emotional healing, stability and spiritual growth. An exegetical study throws light on the role of prayer and trust in God. One can entrust to God one's problems and one's supplication for help in the firm belief that He will provide a way out. An investigation into counseling perspectives in the Scriptures and in the literature on Christian counseling brought to light that pastoral counseling, which is a mandate given to believers, affords a unique opportunity for lovingly encouraging and consoling people with complex trauma. Contributions by psychiatry and psychology emphasise the phase approach. They stress security and stability, the processing of the traumatic memory and mourning, as well as a renewed commitment to new relationships. The core of the findings is that persons with complex trauma - which is an intricate syndrome relating to a spectrum of post-traumatic disturbances following intense, protracted and repeated trauma - can be guided by pastoral counseling to emotional healing, stability and spiritual growth. Specific reference is made to victims of prolonged family violence and/or physical and/or emotional and/or sexual abuse and/or protracted physical and/or emotional neglect in family context. The empirical research confirmed that the children of the Abraham Krielkinderhuis, Potchefstroom, who were subjected to these traumatic experiences in their parental homes exhibit the typical symptomatology of complex trauma. These entail emotional disturbances like anger and self-injury, disturbances of consciousness like dissociation, disturbances of self-image like stigma, guilt and shame, disturbances in the image of the perpetrator, like unrealistic expectations and finally disturbances in relationships like distrust and loss of faith. The principles and outcome of the empirical research are eventually applicable to all persons struggling with complex trauma. A practice-orientated counseling model was designed which focuses on stabilisation and security, the processing of the traumatic memory and mourning, as well as a renewed commitment to life in abundance and new relationships. In this therapeutic relationship of faith the distress narrative and the narrative of the past are central. God allows everything to turn out for the best for those who trust in Him. In Christ people are more than victors through God's will for their lives. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

The research on pastoral counseling of persons struggling with complex trauma was undertaken with the aim of designing a practice-orientated model for pastoral counseling in order to guide such persons to emotional healing, stability and spiritual growth. An exegetical study throws light on the role of prayer and trust in God. One can entrust to God one's problems and one's supplication for help in the firm belief that He will provide a way out. An investigation into counseling perspectives in the Scriptures and in the literature on Christian counseling brought to light that pastoral counseling, which is a mandate given to believers, affords a unique opportunity for lovingly encouraging and consoling people with complex trauma. Contributions by psychiatry and psychology emphasise the phase approach. They stress security and stability, the processing of the traumatic memory and mourning, as well as a renewed commitment to new relationships. The core of the findings is that persons with complex trauma - which is an intricate syndrome relating to a spectrum of post-traumatic disturbances following intense, protracted and repeated trauma - can be guided by pastoral counseling to emotional healing, stability and spiritual growth. Specific reference is made to victims of prolonged family violence and/or physical and/or emotional and/or sexual abuse and/or protracted physical and/or emotional neglect in family context. The empirical research confirmed that the children of the Abraham Krielkinderhuis, Potchefstroom, who were subjected to these traumatic experiences in their parental homes exhibit the typical symptomatology of complex trauma. These entail emotional disturbances like anger and self-injury, disturbances of consciousness like dissociation, disturbances of self-image like stigma, guilt and shame, disturbances in the image of the perpetrator, like unrealistic expectations and finally disturbances in relationships like distrust and loss of faith. The principles and outcome of the empirical research are eventually applicable to all persons struggling with complex trauma. A practice-orientated counseling model was designed which focuses on stabilisation and security, the processing of the traumatic memory and mourning, as well as a renewed commitment to life in abundance and new relationships. In this therapeutic relationship of faith the distress narrative and the narrative of the past are central. God allows everything to turn out for the best for those who trust in Him. In Christ people are more than victors through God's will for their lives. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Grâce à une méthodologie qualitative s’appuyant sur la Grounded theory et une analyse clinique utilisant la méthode complémentariste, nous avons montré que les individus en situation de précarité, fonctionnent selon une logique de survie psychique. Celle-ci, présente chez tout nourrisson sous forme de violence fondamentale (Bergeret), va perdurer sous l’impact de situations de détresse sans secours adéquat, vécues au cours de leur minorité. Cette logique de survie correspond à l’utilisation par les sujets, de couples d’opposés qui alternent brusquement. Ils remplissent des buts semblables au travers de deux fonctions essentielles que sont la préservation narcissique et la lutte contre la désubjectivation. Celles-ci tendent, plus généralement, vers une recherche de maitrise afin d’éviter un effondrement psychique déjà éprouvé (Winnicott, 1969). Le clivage de l’objet, la fragilité du Moi-peau (Anzieu 1985), l’acting, la tendance à la répétition, mais également la dimension persécutive sont les éléments principaux du modèle de fonctionnement psychique dégagé à partir des données de recherche. Ce modèle n’est pas étranger à des contextes qui ont en commun la paradoxalité (Roussillon 1991). Ainsi la précarité sociale entre en cohérence avec ce fonctionnement voire le fait réémerger. Les sujets tentent de renégocier cette nouvelle situation afin de l’intégrer, en se positionnant comme acteur. Ce modèle de fonctionnement psychique est proche des organisations limites et narcissiques. Nous ne pouvons cependant les assimiler de manière systématique à des fonctionnements pathologiques du fait qu’ils sont adaptés à un contexte où la survie psychique est primordiale. / This qualitative research explores the psychological functioning of individuals living in precariousness. The methodology used is based on grounded theory and clinical analysis referring to the complementarist method. Results show that individuals in precariousness operate on the basis of psychic survival as coined by Bergeret (1984): experienced by all infants as a primary violence, it perseveres in a context of distress without adequate help in the child’s environment. This logic of survival is underpinned by the individuals’ resort to pairs of opposites alternating abruptly. These opposites respond to the same goal of survival throughout a narcissistic preservation and a struggle against desubjectivation, in an attempt to avoid the psychological collapse once experienced (Winnicott, 1969). The core mechanisms animating the model of our participants’ psychological functioning underlined in our results are the following: splitting of the object, fragility of the “Moi-peau” (Anzieu, 1985), the acting, resorting to repetition as well as persecutory aspects. This model is no stranger to contexts that share the element of paradoxical (Roussillon, 1991). Therefore, social precariousness triggers the emergence of this functioning. The participants seemed to renegotiate this new situation and thus to integrate it, by attempting to reposition themselves as actors of their reality. This model of psychic logic described resonates with borderline and narcissistic organizations. However, it is not suggested to systematically assign to it a pathological dimension because it is adapted to a context where psychological survival is paramount.

Law and psychoanalysis are disciplines that address different questions and have different purposes. However efforts have been made to find some spaces for interdisciplinarity. One of these efforts has been to use judicial proceedings as places in which individual traumas can be transformed into cultural and social traumas. This article aims to show the risks and pitfalls of this enterprise by using a real life example. The purpose is to show how law can fail on this purpose and turn itself instead into a place for revictimization. In this latter scenario the role of lawyers and their professional duties play a key role. / El derecho y el psicoanálisis son disciplinas que tienen propósitos diferentes y se formulan preguntas distintas. No obstante, son varios los esfuerzos que se han hecho y las posibilidades que existen para que ambas disciplinas puedan interactuar. Una de las formas a través de la que se ha propuesto una aproximación interdisciplinar es la idea según la cual los procedimientos judiciales pueden convertirse en escenarios para la socialización de un trauma de naturaleza individual y su consecuente tránsito hacía un trauma cultural de tipo colectivo. El presente artículo tiene como propósito advertir los riesgos de esta estrategia y demostrar, a través de un ejemplo puntual, cómo los procesos judiciales pueden fallar en este propósito y constituirse más bien en un escenario de revictimización. En este proceso de revictimización juegan un papel determinante los abogados, la concepción estándar de la ética profesional del abogado y la forma en la que esta enmarca sus deberes profesionales.