Supporting Survivors to Recover from the Impacts of Domestic Violence – Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Course description

This course is designed to help professionals identify signs of post-traumatic stress (PTS) in women and girls who have experienced violence and to explore different aspects of complex PTS. Delegates will practise introducing the framework and offering information to women. There will be opportunities to learn about and try out basic strategies to overcome intrusive memories and flashbacks, to discuss avoidance or numbing and to reduce hyperarousal or hypervigilance. These strategies are intended to support women and girls once they are safe from violence or after their safety plans are in place.

Learning objectives

• To develop an understanding of PTS and Complex PTS
• To increase confidence in talking with victims of vawg about their psychological distress
• To explore options for offering information to women
• To practise helping a woman identify signs, recognise triggers and normalise her reaction
• To experiment with basic strategies to manage symptoms of intrusive events, flashbacks or nightmares
• To identify and discuss numbing and avoidance in the context of healthy emotions
• To develop a range of options to help women manage arousal symptoms or sleeping difficulties.

Who should attend?

No prior knowledge of therapeutic approaches is assumed. The course might be of most interest to professionals working directly with women who are recovering from their experiences of violence and who have responsibility for their individual support or key work.

 

National Occupation Standards

This course will help develop the skills and knowledge to support the following National Occupational Standards (NOS) - for more information about NOS click here.

BH202 Challenge public attitudes towards domestic and/or sexual abuse/violence

GK105 Advocate on behalf of victims/survivors of domestic and/or sexual abuse/violence

GK102 Deliver interventions towards increasing the safety of individual victims/survivors of domestic and/or sexual abuse/violence

GK101 Provide access to information for victims/survivors of domestic and/or sexual abuse/violence

DE5 (CJ C205) Establish and maintain contact with victims, survivors and witnesses which acknowledges the effects of their experience

BI201 Assess the needs of and risks to victims/survivors of domestic abuse/violence

BI302 Contribute to developing plans towards managing the risk of harm to victims/survivors of domestic and/or sexual abuse/violence

GK104 Empower victims/survivors of domestic and/or sexual abuse/violence to recover and to regain control of their lives

MH1 Promote effective communication and relationships with people who are troubled or distressed

MH2 Enable people with mental health needs to access and benefit from services systems

MH99 Establish and agree the therapeutic contract

MH100 Establish and maintain the therapeutic relationship

MH14 Identify potential mental health needs and related issues

MH15 Refer individuals to mental health and/or other services

MH19 Co-ordinate, monitor and review service responses to meet individuals' needs and circumstances

MH21Respond to crisis situations

MH27 Reinforce positive behavioural goals during relationships with individuals

MH45 Enable people with mental health needs to develop coping strategies

MH48 Work with people to identify their needs for safety, support and engagement and how these needs can best be addressed

MH62 Determine the concerns and priorities of individuals

MH63 Work with individuals and families to develop services to improve their mental health and address their mental health needs

 

Please contact Sophie Taylor - sophie.taylor@avaproject.org.uk - the Training & Events Co-ordinator, for information and price quotes.