The Trauma management project aims to help heal different kinds of trauma and break down the collective fears that have, after decades of civil war circumstances, led to a �habit of thinking� and a general paralysis. In so doing, individuals become better able to act and to regain responsibility, begin a dialogue with the members of their own and other population groups and jointly work towards better living conditions.

In addition to dealing with anxiety disorders and trauma, the project is also intended to build up the self-esteem and sense of worth of the often intimidated rural population. Cambodian participants will train to become qualified trauma management practitioners.

Participants are trained in the western psychotherapy approach and then in Buddhist psychology. After the traditional Buddhist culture and tradition was destroyed in Cambodia, the re-establishment of religious and spiritual values seems to be a key factor in the Cambodian society. Participants are drawn from Buddhist, Christian and Muslim traditions.

Birgit Ottow is a psychologist and ethnologist, working in Germany as a psychotherapist, mainly with trauma survivors from areas of war and crisis. She also works for foreign aid companies (GTZ) in the field of intercultural coaching, crisis prevention, and therapy for victims of violence. Besides her work in Germany she works in Asian and southeast Asian countries. She is a Behavioural, Hypnotherapy and EMDR Therapist, and is also trained in Systemic Therapy and will train on the Western Psychotherapy approach. Dr. John McConnell will qualify the local therapists in Buddhist psychology. He is a philosopher and author, living in Great Britain and working in Asian and southeast Asian countries for more than 30 years in the field of conflict resolution and peace building. He is the author of �mindful mediation� which was translated into different Asian languages and �Dhamma and healing�.