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Exercise : trying to create a coherent narrative
This exercise can be used by a helper in sessions with one survivor or group sessions in workshops .
Rivers can be a good metaphor for time and the course of life . A river flows in one direction , from its source to the sea , from cradle to grave , birth to death . Our thoughts and attention are like birds above the river , flying back and forth . We remember good and terrifying things , sorrows but also happy events . Our thoughts also fly into the future , to our worries , what we fear , what we look forward to and long for .
Together , the helper and survivor visualise the river . On one bank of the river , draw symbols or write keywords that represent the survivor ’ s good memories , the good things of the present , and what he hopes the future will bring .
On the other bank , draw symbols or write keywords that represent sad or frightening things the survivor has experienced in the past , what is stressful in the present , what makes him anxious or worried about the future .
Make sure he draws and writes some things that he longs and hopes for in the future . Encourage him to notice where his thoughts tend to travel .
This exercise can help a survivor see his life as a whole . This may in turn help him to feel that his traumatic experiences do not dominate altogether but can become just one part of his experience , alongside many other memories .
HELP AND ACTION past present future
REFLECTION QUESTION
Questions to reflect on
• How are the survivors you work with affected by their experiences ?
• How do they speak about their experiences , and about themselves ?
• How do they react when they describe their experiences ? From a human rights perspective , why is it important that survivors own their personal history ?