Family Therapy of Terroristic Trauma: Psychological Syndromes and Treatment Strategies

Terrorist attacks combine features of criminal assaults, disasters, and acts of war which, as recent events have tragically shown, often involve children and families in the carnage. Much of our clinical knowledge in treating terroristic trauma is adapted from psychotherapeutic knowledge and experience with victims of criminal assault, homicidal bereavement, natural and man-made disasters, war and political violence, workplace homicide, and school shootings. This article reviews the pertinent literature on these types of trauma and combines this information with the author's own experience in treating adults, children, and family victims and survivors of recent terrorist attacks. The paper describes the psychological syndromes resulting from terrorism and discusses the relevant individual and family therapy modalities for treating victims of terror. Finally, the role of mental health clinicians in the larger national and international response to terroristic trauma is highlighted.