By Their Side

'I want to help!' It's a thought that goes through many people's minds when they see refugees forced to seek safety in other countries. Some might find themselves asking further questions: What's the best way to talk to someone dealing with trauma? How can I establish a foundation of trust? How will our relationship function? The answers are contained within these pages. A handbook for volunteers, By Their Side offers a solid foundation for people supporting and working with refugees. In clear, comprehensible sections, Barbara Preitler discusses trauma and forced displacement from a psychological point of view, imparting advice and background knowledge, and illustrating ways in which we can deepen our understanding of others and work to build good interpersonal relationships. She encourages us to seek out opportunities for new encounters, helping people with different cultural backgrounds and experiences to build strong relationships.

Dr Barbara Preitler is a psychologist, psychotherapist and supervisor. She is a founding member and therapist at Hemayat, a Vienna-based support centre for refugees. She teaches at various universities and higher education institutes, and lectures and writes about psychotraumatology, complicated grief, intercultural psychosocial intervention, psychosocial support and crisis intervention in various international projects.