For survivors of torture, the path to recovery isn't just in the mind—it's in the kitchen, the garden, and the simple, human act of doing.
When we think of therapy, we often picture a quiet room and a conversation. But for individuals who have endured the profound trauma of torture, words can sometimes fail. Their suffering is etched not only into their memories but into their very bodies, disrupting their ability to engage in the most fundamental human behaviors: to care for themselves, to connect with others, to find purpose in a day.
This is where a powerful, hands-on approach is changing lives. It's called occupational therapy, and its core idea is revolutionary in its simplicity: healing is found in action.
By reclaiming the everyday activities—or "occupations"—that give life meaning, survivors can rebuild their sense of self and reclaim a place in their community. This isn't therapy with borders; it's a holistic, ecological approach that meets people where they live, quite literally.
Addressing mind, body, and community connections simultaneously
Using daily tasks like cooking as therapeutic interventions
Rebuilding social connections through shared experiences
At its heart, occupational science tells us that we are what we do. Our daily routines and chosen activities—from making breakfast to working a job—structure our time, define our identities, and connect us to the world.
For survivors of torture, this natural rhythm is violently shattered. Key concepts help us understand why:
This is a profound state of disconnection. Survivors may feel isolated, useless, and unable to participate in activities that were once meaningful. The world feels foreign, and they feel foreign in it.
Trauma disrupts the ability to plan, initiate, and complete tasks. The brain's executive functions can be impaired, making a simple sequence like preparing a meal feel like an insurmountable challenge.
The goal of therapy is not to return to a "pre-trauma" self, which is often impossible, but to help construct a new identity. Engaging in purposeful action allows a person to slowly redefine themselves.
One of the most compelling examples of this practice in action is a collaborative project, often referred to in research as the "Community Kitchen" intervention. Let's break down this powerful "experiment in healing."
This wasn't a controlled lab experiment, but a real-world, community-based program with a clear, therapeutic structure.
A small group of 5-8 torture survivors, often from diverse cultural backgrounds, was invited to participate. The focus was on creating a safe, confidential, and non-clinical environment.
Each week, the group would collaboratively plan a meal. This itself was a therapeutic act, involving negotiation, sharing cultural preferences, and making collective decisions.
The group would go to a local market together. This step practiced community navigation, budgeting, and social interaction in a public space—a daunting task for many survivors.
In a donated kitchen space, the group would work together to prepare the meal. Roles were fluid—chopping, stirring, seasoning—allowing individuals to contribute according to their energy and ability.
The session culminated in the group sharing the meal they had created. This reinforced the social reward of their collective effort and restored the primal, nurturing act of breaking bread together.
The results were measured through qualitative interviews, observational notes, and self-reported well-being scales. The data revealed profound shifts.
| Week | Level of Verbal Participation | Initiative in Tasks | Observed Social Smiling/Laughter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Low, mostly responses to direct questions | Minimal, requires prompts | Rare, brief |
| 4-6 | Increased, begins to ask questions | Begins 1-2 simple tasks independently | Occasional, during familiar tasks |
| 7-9 | Active, shares opinions and stories | Takes on more complex tasks, offers help | More frequent, context-appropriate |
| 10-12 | High, initiates conversation, jokes | Plans and leads aspects of the meal | Common, spontaneous |
The scientific importance of these results is clear: the process of doing, together, directly counteracts the effects of occupational alienation and disruption . The kitchen became a "therapeutic landscape" where safety was established, competence was built, and community was forged . The act of creating a meal provided a tangible, sensory-rich experience that helped participants reconnect with their bodies in a positive way, countering the memories of bodily violation.
In a lab, scientists use reagents to create reactions. In the community kitchen, therapists use a different set of tools to catalyze healing.
| Tool / Material | Function in the "Experiment" |
|---|---|
| The Kitchen Itself | A familiar, non-threatening, and goal-oriented environment that promotes normative, culturally relevant tasks. |
| Food Ingredients | Sensory-rich materials that evoke memory, culture, and comfort, serving as a medium for choice and self-expression. |
| Shared Meal Protocol | The culminating ritual that provides immediate positive reinforcement, social connection, and a sense of accomplishment. |
| Group Collaboration | Creates a "therapeutic community" for peer support, reduces isolation, and models healthy social interaction. |
| The OT as Facilitator | Guides the process, ensures physical and psychological safety, and subtly scaffolds tasks to ensure success and build confidence. |
The journey from being a victim of torture to becoming a survivor, and ultimately, a thriving individual, is long and complex. The "Therapy Without Borders" approach, exemplified by the community kitchen, shows us that the map for this journey is drawn in the details of daily life.
It teaches us that healing isn't something that happens to a person, but something that unfolds through them—through their hands, their choices, and their shared experiences.
By focusing on the ecology of human occupation—the interconnectedness of person, activity, and environment—we can help plant the seeds of resilience in the most fertile ground possible: a life being lived, one meaningful task at a time.
Kronenberg, F., Pollard, N., & Sakellariou, D. (Eds.). (2011). Therapy Without Borders: Towards an Ecology of Occupation-based Practice. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.
Black, M. From Kites to kitchens: collaborative community based occupational therapy with survivors of torture. (In the above volume).