This is a case presentation of one of Julie Savage female clients at STARTTS who had been imprisoned and tortured for her involvement in a political movement that began as an initiative for social justice, and was consequently targeted by the national government.
The client retreated from political involvement and focused upon bringing up her daughter until a resurgence of attacks upon members of the political group several years later, led her to flee to Australia as an asylum seeker. Through this case presentation Julie illustrates the central role of grief in the refugee experience and the impact of the intersection of grief and intense trauma upon our clients, within the context of the continuing need to survive.