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Overview
Canada has long been regarded as a safe haven for refugees fleeing violence and persecution. Yet, for many, the duality between the hope for refuge and the lived reality of displacement remains central to their experience. Join this presentation to explore the lived and psychological experiences of war and torture survivors who are refugees and refugee claimants in Canada.
The session examines how trauma is shaped not only by political violence, war, forced displacement, and resettlement but also by survivors’ encounters with immigration systems—experiences that can often amplify harm and disrupt pathways to healing. Alongside these accounts of rupture, resistance, and survival, the session highlights narratives of cultural continuity, meaning-making, and community resilience. Participants are invited to bear witness and engage in deep reflection on how war-related trauma is compounded by the enduring psychosocial impact of exile and how healing can emerge through culturally grounded pathways and community worldviews.
The presentation explores how war is wielded as a mechanism of human rights violations, including violence rooted in gender, sexuality, and other intersectional identities. Drawing on Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) and informed by cultural frameworks, the session promotes a thoughtful examination of evidence-informed practices, culturally resonant approaches, and community-informed pathways relevant to this population. In doing so, it challenges participants to consider how systems of care can either perpetuate institutional betrayal and systemic injustice or serve as sites of dignity restoration, co-regulation, and collective healing.
Ultimately, the session underscores the importance of culturally and context-responsive, dignity-centred approaches that honour the lived experiences and agency of survivors.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Describe the pre- and post-migration experiences unique to war and torture survivors who are refugees and refugee claimants.
- Explore the complex relational, existential, and emotional impacts of war, torture, and forced displacement. Critically examine how dominant systems of care—including institutional betrayals and systemic gaps—can inadvertently perpetuate harm.
- Apply culturally and context-responsive practices that support trauma-informed, dignity-centred engagement with survivors.
- Describe key elements of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) within a dignity-oriented approach to working with survivors of political and war-related violence.
- Explore how interdisciplinary teams can co-create integrative, human-centred responses that support the healing and agency of individuals and communities
Date & Time
Thursday, October 9
8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Speaker
Mego Nerses (he/him), RP, CCC
Cost:
- Royal Staff: $15
- Non-Royal Staff: $40
Registration
Questions?
Contact conferences@theroyal.ca.