Sexual assault is both the most underreported crime in the United States and one of the most ubiquitous. Victims of sexual violence are more likely to suffer from symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder than those exposed to other forms of trauma, including combat. While there have been significant improvements in training and response, many professionals tasked with providing crisis intervention, advocacy, and psychotherapy with victims of sexual violence are ill-equipped to respectfully and effectively respond. This workshop is designed to prepare workers to respond to disclosures of sexual abuse or assault.
Using a combination of didactic lecture, open discussion, case study, and role play, this workshop is designed to increase your knowledge and understanding of sexual victimization in the United States. You will be presented with an overview of the impact of sexual trauma on the brain and body and provided with a trauma informed framework for working with victims of sexual violence across various settings. With an eye on structural vulnerabilities and intersectionality, the workshop draws on the work of Judith Herman, Bessel van der Kolk, and Babette Rothschild, elements of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.
