Location: Miramichi, New Brunswick

Dates: May 14th (online Zoom) & May 21st – 24th, 2024 (in-person)

Fees: $600

This training equips participants with essential tools and knowledge to support survivors through an anti-oppressive and feminist counselling lens. Participants will explore vital topics such as privilege and oppression, while debunking myths perpetuated in the media about sexual assault. You will also gain a deep understanding of the nuanced dynamics of consent and coercion to navigate complex situations sensitively. Moreover, with a focus on the ways that trauma lives in the body, our program addresses the critical aspects of supporting survivors in re-establishing interpersonal safety and healthy sexual relationships. We will also work on building tools for inner safety, which includes addressing issues such as flashbacks, body memories, and intrusive thoughts.

Our training goes beyond theory by delving into the neurobiology of sexual trauma and its profound impact on survivors’ bodies and minds. Additionally, participants will gain valuable insights into the concept of secondary wounding and learn how to provide effective support to individuals experiencing the long-lasting effects of trauma. Our experienced facilitators will guide you through interventions tailored to creating safety in survivors’ lives and processing trauma effectively. Furthermore, this training places a strong emphasis on the impacts of trauma exposure, with a focus on collective care. Participants will acquire strategies to foster a supportive environment that encourages healing and resilience. This training will better prepare you to provide survivors with the care and compassion they need as they navigate their paths to recovery and empowerment, contributing to a more compassionate and understanding world for survivors of sexual violence.

Here is a brief agenda of the topics that will be covered in the training:

Day 1

• Foundations of Sexual Violence
• Secondary Wounding

Day 2

• Sexual Violence as Trauma
• Neurobiology of Trauma
• Processing Traumatic Memory
• Complex Trauma

Day 3

• Phase One: Stabilization & Safety
• Interpersonal Safety
• Inner Safety
• The Experience of Sexual Trauma through the Body

Day 4

• Vicarious Resiliency
• Adapting to Trauma
• Phase Two: Remembering the Past to Rebuild the Future
• Interventions for Processing Traumatic Experiences

Day 5

• Counsellor Well-Being
• Phase Three: Surpassing Survival and Journeying Towards Empowerment
• Intimacy and Sexuality
• Closing with client