Narrative Exposure Therapy Study for PTSD Among the Homeless Population

Narrative Exposure Therapy attempts to place the trauma within a narrative of the person's life. Anecdotal evidence of using this approach in the homeless population is that constructing an autobiography helps to give meaning to their problems and provide the initial steps in constructing a core sense of belonging and identity. Six sessions of individual therapy allows for participants to work with a therapist one-on-one to position their experiences of trauma within their life story.

At the start of their involvement in the, study participants randomized to this group will be provided with the option to access services from a professional genealogist, to trace their family history. Participants will be made aware of the fact that new family information will be revealed through this process, and also be informed of the standard methods that will be used to extract this information which could involve research through publicly available historical records or voluntary DNA testing.