Program for Torture Victims

I am working as a psychotherapist at PTV for 1 year and 2 months. I have over 20 years of experience working in the mental health field and this experience is unique. The commitment, dedication and the incredible family, community work environment make our job so easy and pleasant!

An amazing organizations doing some of the most difficult, rewarding work in Los Angeles. On a shoe-string budget, they manage to help hundreds of clients with medical, social, psychological, legal, and any other kind of support needed to start their new lives. Please consider donating. --Arun Baheti

PTV started 30 years ago as a volunteer organization by two people who simply wanted to help survivors of torture. This humanitarian spirit is at the core of PTV today. The staff and volunteers at PTV are wonderful, dedicated, talented people who give amazingly of themselves. The need to serve the organization's wonderful clients is becoming more and more demanding and more and more resources are needed to serve this population. We have just hired a great leader in the Executive Director position, Julie Gutman, and we are excited for Julie and everyone else at PTV to help raise the visibility of the organization with the goal of developing more resources.

The Program for Torture Victims is an amazing organization. When you open the front door, you're immediately greeted with smiling faces and an overall warm atmosphere. Even though I've only contributed a small amount, they make me feel as though I'm making a huge difference each time I volunteer. Last time I went to help them with their newsletter, they even fed me! The staff is always willing to stop and teach me about their services and the issues the clients face. I've learned so much from these beautiful women (and a couple of men!) One thing I learned is that about half, if not most, of PTV clients are women. Most people think that victims of torture are typically men who have been interrogated. Actually, many torture survivors are women who have been victims of sexual violence. PTV also serves some victims of female genital mutilation. The challenges that these women face are unimaginable. Fortunately, most of PTV's staff consists of extremely talented, professional, and sympathetic women. PTV staff told me that many clients, especially women, had to flee their countries alone. They had to leave their famlies temporarily. Sadly, it can take a long time until the rest of the family can make it to the United States. PTV staff helps, psychologically and financially, in these times of need. Mothers and their children have support from PTV after the years of separation. I can't say enough about the amazing work of this organization. They are a small but very effective family. I feel honored to be a part of their community!

PTV is a very special place to work at. All of the staff provided me with all of the support I needed to complete the projects I was involved in. PTV has given me a very valuable experience and has helped me grow tremendously.

PTV is an amazing organization that has helped thousands of individuals regain strength and dignity after experiencing the most unthinkable horrors imposed by fellow human beings. My mother co-founded the organization and I have been involved with PTV for several years. I am always so impressed by the dedicated, passionate and compassionate staff and volunteers that PTV attracts. And I am continually touched by the stories of hope that come from PTV's work.

PTV has given me a tremendous support since i arrived from Africa in 2002. My life has changed because of the staff and their generous assistance with my health, ESL, housing and meeting new friends.

I have been helping PTV and its clients for over 8 years now and I have witnessed so many “life transformations” with PTV’s clients. It has enriched my life tremendously to be involved with such an organization. The Co-Founders, Ana Deutsche and Dr. Jose Quiroga, have truly accomplished a grand mission: to help survivors of torture get their dignity back!

My experience working at PTV was positive and hopeful. I was the assistant to Ana Deutsch, Clinical Director--a woman who genuinely cares about her clients and work. I saw how committed she was to making sure that they were treated with respect and compassion. I remember one time when I was assisting a client with obtaining Medi-Cal: She made sure that I worked with his therapist so that it would be easier for him to follow instructions. I have much respect for Ana and PTV. This organization exemplifies the best of humanity in a way that makes any person receiving services want to be a better.

I am a volunteer that is helping PTV with communications and fund raising. I recently came to know about the work of the Program for Torture Victims through my friend Julie Gutman who recently became their Executive Director. Previously the Vice-President of the Board of Public Works Supervisors, and Senior Labor Adviser to the Mayor, Julie has brought a lot of experience and energy to PTV. In my opinion the combination of PTV’s incredible work in health and human services for survivors of torture with the energy and experience of Julie really places PTV first in the list of incredible and dynamic non-profits serving women in Los Angeles.

PTV is an excellent organization that has helped hundreds of women recover from some of the most traumatizing and horrific circumstances. I read in one of their newsletters their client Bibianne, a refugee from Congo, who almost beaten to death, sexual assaulted, and sustained chronic lasting injuries as a result of her torture. In her words, ““I have come from a shell to a seed and from a seed to a small flower. PTV saved my life.” Bibianne is just one of the many women PTV has helped to recover her health, dignity, and sense of humanity. I am going to be actively volunteering here to help this incredible organization continue serving survivors of torture. The largely female staff is so passionate and dedicated. It's an inspiration.

PTV is the first organization in the US that attends the needs of torture survivors. Their staff (most of which are women) is wonderful and clients feel at home from day one. I'm also a community partner, as my org collaborates with them, and they are a pleasure to deal with. PTV should be recognized more often for their amazing work. They are nationally and internationally acclaimed experts in the field of healing and their contributions are countless. I enjoy volunteering with them too, as they have great ideas and they carry out a wonderful mission.

Program for Torture Victims (PTV) is one-of-a-kind in Los Angeles and in the United States. PTV is the pioneer organization in the United States for torture treatment. PTV has served clients nationally and internationally for over 30 years. PTV's staff are experts in the field of medicine, psychology and forensic services and their expertise is an asset to their clients receiving asylum. In the eight months I have been involved with PTV I have seen the great impact the organization has had on individual clients, their families and the community of Los Angeles. For example, PTV was able to raise funds to reconnect a client with their family after years of separation. PTV has a small staff that has a large impact. Clients and their families who come to PTV receive services, support and regain a sense of hope for their future.