You are not alone: Exploring ways to support survivors of sexual assault and violence

Trauma-informed and strength-based approaches to survivor care—grounded in compassion, social justice, and clinical practice.

Registration includes both the live webinar training and a follow-up Community of Practice session designed to support the application of learning in practice.

You are not alone webinar overview

Sexual assault and violence are distressing and traumatic experiences. These experiences can leave psychological, emotional and physical scars on the survivors, affecting all walks of their lives. Professionals must develop the necessary skills to effectively support survivors of sexual assault (SA) and violence (SV).

Activist and survivor-led movements have brought the deeply entrenched issue of sexual assault (SA) and violence (SV) in our society into the spotlight through their dedicated efforts. It is imperative to support professionals with the necessary tools and resources required to work with survivors in a compassionate, supportive, and trauma-informed manner.

In the June 16 training, participants will learn how to support survivors of sexual assault and violence from a trauma-informed and strength-based perspective. They will also explore the social justice lens in working with survivors. The facilitator will teach the topic from clinical, social, and political perspectives, centering the experiences of survivors. Participants will explore meaningful and reflective tools for working with and supporting survivors with skill, care, and compassion.

Examine ways to center survivors, understand elements of consent, learn healing approaches and risk assessment for safety concerns. Participants will engage with how to sustain and support themselves as they do this important work.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the impacts of sexual assault (SA) from a clinical, social and political lens on survivors and communities.
• Grasp the impacts of trauma. Gain insights into the emotional, psychological and physical effects of survivors, considering both short-term and long-term impacts.
• Understand the core ideas and principles of trauma-informed care in relation to working with survivors. 
• Explore consent, disclosures and risk assessment.
• Deepen trauma-informed skills and understand the impact of SA.
• Find ways to support and sustain oneself in the work of supporting survivors.
• Engage in a survivor-centred approach – emphasize the importance of placing survivors at the center of all responses and support services. 
• Support survivors from a compassionate trauma-informed and intersectional lens.

Follow-up Community of Practice overview

This 2-hour interactive session on July 27 offers an opportunity to revisit key ideas from the training. Participants will reflect on how the learning is being applied in practice and explore questions that arise when supporting survivors in clinical and community settings.

Through guided discussion and shared reflection, participants will learn from one another’s experiences. The session will deepen their understanding of trauma-informed and survivor-centred approaches.

Karine will facilitate the conversation and offer additional insights on topics such as responding to disclosures, consent and safety considerations, and sustaining oneself in this work.

After registering, participants will receive a brief survey where they can submit questions or topics to help guide the session. While it may not be possible to respond to every individual question, common themes from responses will help shape the discussion. This follow-up session provides a great opportunity to reconnect with peers, continue the conversation, and further strengthen your work supporting survivors.

Register now to gain the essential skills and knowledge to support survivors with compassion and care, while learning to approach the work through a trauma-informed, survivor-centered lens.

“As Canadians we need to safeguard our mental heath, and understand injuries and subsequent trauma across all domains in our country from education to medical and social services etc… We have the knowledge to do much better and at no time has this been more important than now. This knowledge is fundamental to our humanity to care for ourselves and each other.”

– Lois Hart, MSc. (cert) OAHMP, Registered Psychotherpist, certified EMDR practitioner for trauma, Attendee, You are not alone: Exploring ways to support survivors of sexual assault and violence

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