Victims and actions: A personal perspective based on four decades of clinical research and practice

Experience of war, terrorism, genocide and politicide manifests in suffering of the victims and survivors. Nevertheless, it is argued here, that, in engaging with these patients, we have to adopt an action theory informed conceptualization of the life of our clients and patients mobilizing their action resources and competences. After describing some experiences with victims of torture, their PTSD symptoms and suicidality are taken as an example to illustrate the contribution of action theory to understanding PTSD and to preventing suicide. This is a review of our research and psychotherapy practice of past four decades.