Abbi, a 42-year-old woman from Northern Uganda, was one of thousands abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel group that terrorized the region for nearly 20 years. During her captivity, Abbi endured unimaginable horrors. She was forced to kill other abductees and was given as a wife to a rebel commander with whom she had a child. After escaping, Abbi married another man who emotionally abused her, leading to their separation.

Abbi was referred to our partner, the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), by the War Victims and Children Network. Building a relationship and therapeutic alliance with her took time, as she was initially quiet and often lost in her thoughts. She faced intense trauma symptoms—trembling, palpitations, nightmares, and numbness—along with the stigma of having a child with a rebel commander.

“We can collectively improve mental health care services simply by acknowledging 
and treating persons living with such conditions with respect and dignity.”

When Abbi first met with the CVT counselor, she appeared unkempt and described feeling like she had “lost her soul.” She had given up on life, seeing it as meaningless. Her goal was to find peace with herself and her past, and to live in the present moment.
Abbi was enrolled in a specialized therapeutic intervention that included 11 group therapy sessions designed to help heal her trauma. In the fourth session, she cried as she drew her “river of life,” depicting it as full of huge stones.

Over time, Abbi began to show signs of recovery. She reported feeling lighter after sharing her traumatic story and realizing that other group members faced similar struggles. Her social interactions improved and she began a healthy new relationship with a man she planned to live with.

At a three-month follow-up, Abbi looked well-kept and confident. She had learned to communicate calmly with her children rather than being aggressive, and the breathing and movement exercises helped her manage anger and stay present. Abbi expressed that she had “gained her soul back,” which made her feel hopeful and motivated to carry on with her daily life.