Sexualities In The Aftermath Of Trauma: Clinical And Political Issues

Objectives. - Political violence can put individuals on the road of exile where friends, family and cultural supports are less present and therefore adversity is often experienced alone. These existential upheavals affect the sexualities of survivors of violence. However, these are rarely at the heart of the post-traumatic care plan.Method. - This article proposes to study the clinical and political issues regarding posttraumatic sexuality for migrant and racialized populations. Based on clinical illustrations, we propose to present our psychotherapeutic eco-social and cross-cultural approaches in order to discuss sexuality in relation to the notion of relationality and the way it is translated in terms of parenthood and conjugality.Results. - This article presents a narrative and relational psychotherapeutic practice that takes into consideration the psychological, social and political aspects of trauma. We propose three vignettes of exiled people who question themselves in the aftermath of trauma surrounding their sexuality, identity and ability to build a family. This relational practice is an intersubjective work informed by the context by proposing culturally sensitive interventions.Conclusion. - For people who have experienced social and political violence, trauma manifests itself in their lives: in social and intimate aspects. The link between the intimate and the political is relationality. This can echo the difficulties in creating trusting relationships and can manifest itself in difficulties of adaptation, but also in family, conjugal and sexual issues. (C) 2021 Sexologies. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.