THE CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR TORTURE SURVIVORS >meditation and mindfulness through healing architecture sarah kershner | professor susanne siepl-coates | ads 8 | spring 2017
vision statement
“
A sanctuary that encourages meditation and mindfulness practices through a reflective and contemplative atmosphere
”
defining torture Torture aims to harm all parts of an individual, breaking down victims physically, mentally, and emotionally. Often, the effects of torture are persisting, causing survivors to continue to suffer from their trauma long after the act of torture has ended. The symptoms are varied, but often are related to post-traumatic stress disorder and may include intrusive thoughts, disrupted sleep, avoidance, and hyper-arousal (Pomfrey, 2016). building entrance & resource library
users
meditation & mindfulness
refugee countries of origin
program concept NUTRITION
MEDICAL
THERAPY
MEDITATION AND MINDFULLNESS
ADMINISTRATION
OUTDOOR SUPPORT
site location least refugees
program concept
mid-range most refugees
therapy meditation & mindfulness
daily users
engagement
15
formal staff -- 5 counselors, 2 nutritionists, 2 practitioners, & 2 nurses
meditation & mindfulness
36 therapy, nutrition, & medicine
32 20
administration & support
outdoor
prepare for interactions with therapists
preparation
coping with emotions that surface during therapy
less rumination acceptance instead of avoidance
compliance
administration -- 3 reception & library staff members, 10 administration staff, & 2 support staff members volunteers -- 5 instructors
perseverence through trauma processing
outdoors establishing a healing relationship with nature and the Earth, as well as establishing relationships with community
providing emotional support and coping skills for working through trauma
nutrition supporting whole-body wellness through the shared experience of cooking and consuming healthy food
medical
providing support and coordination of medical care during the healing process
administration providing financial, social, and logistic support for users of the facility, as well as the facility itself
Mindfulness is “commonly conceptualized as involving attention to and awareness of the present moments and nonjudgmental acceptance” (Vujanovic, 2016). The implementation of meditation and mindfulness practices have been shown to vastly improve the wellbeing of users with PTSD. Meditation heals the part of the brain where traumatic memories and emotions are stored, allowing survivors to take control of their lives. Several portions of the brain, including the amygdala, which controls the processing of potential threats, the hippocampus, which controls memories, and the pre-frontal cortex, which regulates behavior and fear responses, are often impacted by trauma and PTSD. Neuro-imaging techniques have shown that meditation and mindfulness practices have increased the function of these portions of the brain, allowing survivors to better regulate their response to stimuli by addressing the root of the symptoms (Wolkin, 2016).