Level 2 (60 hours)
Advocacy~Integrating a Victim-Defined Approach
Introduction
1. The Stop Program
2. The 15 Commandments of Stop
3. The House of Abuse & Relapse Prevention
4. The Cycle of Abuse
5. Red Flags of Trauma
6. Mindfulness & The Many Faces of Addiction
7. Assertiveness and Dealing with Conflict
8. Ethics & Victim-Defined Advocacy Counseling
9. Counseling Approaches for Business & Organizations
10. Core Competencies & Victim-Defined Advocacy Counseling
This course will offer counseling choices, methods and approaches, and ways to teach clients and families how to overcome victimization and build resiliency. Having the skills necessary to work collaboratively with other professionals who provide treatment, legal, or social support services is a necessary skill for professional counselors. The characteristics of violence and patterns in men vs. women as perpetrators or victims will be explored. An in-depth examination and discussion regarding the effects of domestic violence and residual trauma will be offered. Many "victims" are rebuilding their lives and experience increased risks when attempting to leave the situation, acquire a job or work skills and secure a job, or other attempts at independence. For those who are already working, the employer costs are extreme in relation to changes in productivity, absenteeism, and health-related concerns. Counselors can make a difference by assisting victims with the development of advocacy skills.
Terminology referred to as survivor-defined, trauma-informed, or strength-based have resulted from changes in our approach to understanding domestic violence which has resulted in a change in perspective to improve service and increase prevention efforts by listening to the stories of those who have survived, and by creating a fresh approach and partnership of victim-defined advocacy. Counselors can contribute to this important social movement, and play a significant advocacy partnership role in listening, reviewing the risks, implementing strengthened plans, building support, and by identifying relevant options. Empowerment is a major focus in counseling, and assisting the client in addressing the batter and life-generated risks in a realistic manner will be a necessary step toward change.
Purpose:
To raise visibility and competency in the treatment of trauma in addressing addiction and the effects of race and culture.
Course Goals:
•To apply principles of advocacy in AOD treatment
•To examine an inclusive model in the treatment of trauma
•To improve counselor skills in addressing trauma in AOD treatment
•To learn how to develop trauma-informed and sensitive therapies.
Course Objectives:
•To learn how to address racial and intergenerational trauma in AOD treatment
•To view the impact of race and culture in substance use and other addictive disorders
•To provide a model for healing.
Six Steps to Providing Trauma-Sensitive Treatment:
1) Differentiate the impact of race and culture
2) Respect the advancements in neuroscience and apply a brain/mind-behavior relationship approach in treatment
3) Initiate the "The Mending" of trauma
4) Offer Healing from a 4 Directions Perspective
5) Address the Gaps in Service Delivery
6) Provide Trauma-Sensitive/Informed Treatment
Course Description:
The concepts of race and culture are frequently used interchangeably, which falsely represents large groups of people. On an individual basis, it can distort service delivery, and result in the perpetuation of bias. Being able to distinguish between race and culture offers a first step in the provision of trauma-informed and sensitive counseling. Approximately ten percent of Americans report being in recovery and require assistance maintaining sobriety. Approximately 23.5 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol and these numbers continue to rise. Unfortunately, there are many gaps in service delivery, and frequently a medical model or westernized medicine doesn't adequately address all the needs. Counseling may serve an important role in closing the gap. Counselors can clearly provide an important service that allows some individuals or their families to become educated on issues of race and culture and their influence on trauma and addiction. Having an increased awareness and a step-by-step approach to treatment will allow counselors to contribute and provide trauma-informed and sensitive services.
Introduction
1. Domestic Violence and Victim-Defined Advocacy
2. Risks Victims Face
3. How Women Form Perspectives From Priorities
4. Victim in Contact with Children
5. Trauma, Mental Health, and Substance Use
6. Advocate Role with Violent Partners
7. Victim-Defined Advocacy Environments
8. Victim Defined Policy Advocacy, Ethics, and Counseling
9. Domestic Violence and the Work Environment, and Counseling Applications for Business and Organizations
10. Core-Competencies and Victim-Defined Advocacy Counseling
The impact of domestic violence is far-reaching and can be passed inter-generationally within families; therefore, we now have broadened the scope to consider "family violence." There are numerous reasons why women stay in relationships with intimate partners who are violent (IPV), these risks can be viewed from two main categories: batter-generated risks, and life-generated risks. Various addictions can result in episodes and cycles of violence, some predictable and some impulsive incidents. Trauma can result from the experience of exposure to violence that can result in PTSD, and/or inter-generational and vicarious trauma.
As most victims experience an increased risk upon attempting to leave their efforts at developing a career are disrupted or thwarted, and for those that are employed they may experience increased health risks that interfere with job performance. The counselor can be very beneficial in assisting the client in developing advocacy skills to improve communication and their relationship within the business or organization in which they are training or are employed. A comprehensive review of IPV and non-battering IPV, harm to children, and adult violence not IPV will be examined from the perspective of: identification, and reporting of abuse, a look at the residual repercussions of involvement with the legal system, the impact of abuse on children, links to substance misuse and domestic violence, an exploration of the variety of physical, emotional, and spiritual injuries that can result from exposure to domestic violence, an examination of why people stay in violent relationships, the New Choice Model; and the development of resiliency and healthy families. Advocacy for victims of domestic violence has been the cornerstone of the movement to create change for families.
Domestic violence occurs across every socio-economic status, age group, and providing the "victim" a voice from their unique perspective will make a difference.Victim-defined advocacy can be achieved in five basic steps: prepare, think, plan, act, and monitor. Counselors can partner with victims to empower, create options that clearly consider batter and life-generated risks, promote choice, and improve advocacy through applying a step-by-step systemic approach to change!