Image description: Digital image with text: Dawson Women's Shelter, Skills to Support Survivors, a workshop for helping professionals, FREE! Please register as space is limited, March 30th, 9am-5pm, Register online - tinyurl.com/DWSmarch, email: crickett@dawsonwomensshelter.com, dawsonwomensshelter.com, @DWS_EndViolence. Background is colourful picture of northern lights.

Most survivors of sexual violence and gender-based violence never tell a helping professional - nurse, counsellor, teacher, police officer - about the abuse they are experiencing.

This workshop, designed for helping workers, will help folks to hear a first disclosure of violence (sexual violence, harassment, intimate partner violence) as well as help participants understand the dynamics of power and control that lead to abuse.

The skills we learn in this workshop are very transferable to other trauma-informed practices.

The workshop is:

•               Participatory - lots of discussion, practice, and activities that you can opt in or out of

•               Introductory - like first aid, in that we don't expect folks to leave ready to be a counsellor, but ready to hear a disclosure, offer support, and make referrals

•               Based on situations that come up in your day-to-day work and that you already have awesome skills to build on!

•               Facilitated knowing how hard talking about violence can be, so approached with a sense of respect, joy, appreciation, and a sense of humor

•               Community care – participants are encouraged to take care of themselves throughout the workshop to continue the practice of feeling feelings while doing the work of ending violence. (If you want to see a tremendous amount of cute animal gifs, this is the workshop for you!)

•               In-person and day-long. We know that life and our busy jobs happen, and also ask that outside of unexpected crises, you plan to be in the workshop all day (ie: not book other work during the workshop). There will be breaks in the morning and for lunch. Priority will be given to those who can attend the entire workshop.

•               Designed for folks in helping professions.

Possible topics (would rather have an amazing relevant discussion than get through all the powerpoint slides):

•               Learning and practicing support skills

•               What is gender-based violence? What causes and maintains GBV?

•               What hides GBV?

•               What keeps survivors asking for help?

•               What lies are we taught about violence? How do GBV myths interfere with helpers offering support?

•               What is power and control, beyond buzzwords?

•               Common coping strategies and crisis responses for survivors

•               Lots of safe (no forced big group sharing or discussion) practice of support skills

•               How do we care for ourselves while supporting survivors?

•               What resources (Dawson/Yukon/National) exist for survivors?

• DWS services

This workshop is offered for free by Dawson Women's Shelter.

If you'd like to schedule a workshop for your team, connect with Crickett - crickett@dawsonwomensshelter.com or 993.5086

Register here: