Table 2 Overview of each participant’s case history and treatment aims

1

17-year old girl from Somalia, living in a residential group of a child and youth welfare (CYW) facility, attending a preparatory class for school (did not attend school in Somalia). Parents live in Somalia; they are in contact irregularly. She fled with a family member who died during flight; three brothers died from violence. Presents with sleeping disorder, panic-like fright reaction, impulsive, angry behavior, auto-aggressive behavior.

Reduction of sleeping disorders

Reduction of self-injurious behavior

Reduction of states of panic

Habituation to traumatic experiences

Correction of cognitive bias

Enhancing a feeling of safety

2

17-year old male patient from Afghanistan, living in a CYW facility and attending a cooperation class in preparation for vocational school. He has brothers in Germany, his parents also fled. He doesn’t know what happened to them. Presents with massive sleeping disorders, nightmares and (auto-)aggressive behavior.

Reduction of sleeping disorder

Reduction of (auto-)aggressive behavior

Reduction of nightmares

Habituation to traumatic experiences

Correction of cognitive biases

Enhancing a feeling of safety

3

17-year old male patient from Afghanistan, living in a CYW facility and attending junior high school. His family was threatened by the Taliban, family members died, flight with many traumatizing experiences. He presents with sleeping disorders (<2 h), severe intrusions, depressed and sad mood.

Reduction of sleeping disorder

Reduction of intrusions

Habituation to traumatic experiences

Correction of cognitive biases (e.g., “I didn’t care enough for my mum”)

Enhancing a feeling of safety

4

16-year old girl from Iran, living with her two sisters in a CYW facility and attending junior high school. Parents are alive, but not in Germany. She is in contact with mother and siblings. Father threatened to kill family, she was abused during flight. Presents with massive sleeping disorders and severe intrusions.

Reduction of sleeping disorder

Reduction of intrusions

Habituation to traumatic experiences

Enhancing a feeling of safety

5

18-year old male patient from Afghanistan, living in his own apartment that is part of a CYW facility. He completed junior high school during therapy and started an apprenticeship. His parents and siblings are alive; one brother disappeared during flight. He presents with sleeping disorders, nightmares, flashbacks, dissociative symptoms and strong headache.

Reduction of sleeping disorder

Reduction of dissociative symptoms

Reduction of flashbacks

Habituation to traumatic experiences

Correction of cognitive biases (guilt)

Enhancing a feeling of safety

6

17-year old male patient from Afghanistan, living in a CYW residential group. He attends a preparatory class for secondary school and did several internships during therapy. He has no contact to his family except for one uncle in Germany. In Afghanistan he lived in the desert and had no previous experience of urban life. His brother was murdered. Presents with massive sleeping disorders (nightmares, sleepwalk, waking up during night), severe intrusions, strong headache, depressive and sad mood.

Reduction of sleeping disorder

Reduction of intrusions

Habituation to traumatic experiences

Correction of cognitive biases (e.g., “I walked out on my family.”)

Enhancing a feeling of safety