Transforming pain: Assisting refugee survivors of trauma and torture

Specialized Trauma-Focused Physiotherapy

Over nearly 25 years at STARTTS, Veena has specialized in offering trauma-specific physiotherapy services to survivors of refugee trauma and torture. She works across different age groups and with clients who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. Her integrative approach addresses chronic pain by considering the deep emotional suffering imprinted in the body. She combines various techniques to interrupt the chronic pain cycle, improve functioning, and teach self-help skills. This approach is tailored to each individual and works in collaboration with counselling services, reflecting a shared duty of care.

Case Study Illustration Using Integrative Acupuncture: A Healing Tool

Trained and inspired by the late Paula Raymond Yacoub in Integrative Acupuncture (IA), Veena has found this method invaluable in aiding her clients' healing processes at STARTTS. IA has been a powerful and nurturing tool in addressing complex presentations of trauma. Veena will present a typical case study to illustrate and reflect upon her trauma-focused approach, emphasizing the use of Integrative Acupuncture for clients with multifaceted trauma symptoms.

Presenter

Veena O'Sullivan has been a registered physiotherapist since 1981, holding both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in physiotherapy. With a Graduate Diploma in Counselling, she integrates holistic approaches into her practice. Her extensive experience spans clinical and academic settings, including the Faculty of Health Sciences at Sydney University. Currently, she works both in private practice and at STARTTS (NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors).

Host

Acupuncture & Dry Needling National Group

Date of Live Event

17/07/2025

CPD Hours

1.0 hour

Please note: The content of this Lecture on Demand (LOD) was captured via a recording of a live lecture at the APA premises. Due to the nature of the event and the recording method, this LOD may not have captured some of the questions/comments from live audience. Your purchase of this module indicates your acceptance of this.