Training Needs of Sexual Violence Crisis Workers
Keywords:
Sexual violence, Assault, Abuse, Professional development, Training, Best practice, Evidence-informed training, RapeAbstract
To inform the design of in-house training, a literature review focussing on the training needs of sexual violence crisis workers was conducted and workshops were planned accord- ingly. Rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in survivors indicate the need for workers engaging with survivors to practise in a trauma-informed way while recognising the significant pitfalls of the PTSD paradigm. In addition, training should feature basic counselling and attending skills, power and control dynamics, and theories of empower- ment, and the significant role that “psychological first aid” can play in mediating the psychological and physiological progression of traumatic stress responses. Survivors’ intrinsic senses of shame, the reactions of family members and other involved professionals, and the specifics of work with young people are also necessary areas of training to ensure effective interventions for survivors. A pilot of two short participatory workshops with sexual violence trainees attempting to cover key areas identified by the review highlighted the impact that participants’ different knowledge-bases, professional and personal back- grounds, and self-perceptions of training needs had on training delivery.
References
Ahrens, K. R., Katon, W., McCarty, C., Richardson, L. P., & Courtney, M. E. (2012). Association between childhood sexual abuse and transactional sex in youth aging out of foster care. Child Abuse and Neglect, 36(1), 75–80.
American Psychiatric Association. (1995). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Amstaotter, A. B., & Vernon, L. L. (2008). Emotional reactions during and after trauma. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 16(4), 391–408.
Baugher, S. N., Elhai, J. D., Monroe, J. R., & Gray, M. J. (2010). Rape myth acceptance, sexual trauma history, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25, 2036–2053.
Burgess, A. W., & Holmstrom, L. L. (1974). Crisis and counselling requests of rape victims. Nursing Research, 23(3), 196–202. Campbell, R. (2001). Mental health services for rape survivors. Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse. Campbell, R. (2008). The psychological impact of rape victims’ experience with the legal, medical, and mental health systems.
American Psychologist, 702–717.
Campbell, R., Wasco, S. M., Ahrens, C. E., Sefl, T., & Barnes, H. E. (2001). Preventing the “second rape”: Rape survivors’ experiences with community service providers. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 16, 1239–1259.
Decker, S. E., & Naugle, A. E. (2009). Immediate intervention for sexual sssault: A review with recommendations and implications for practitioners. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 18, 419–441.
Dorais, M., & Corriveau, P. (2009). Gangs and girls: Understanding juvenile prostitution. Montreal, Quebec: McGill Queen’s University Press.
Ehreinreich, J. H. (2003). Understanding PTSD: Forgetting “trauma”. Journal of Social Issues, 3(1), 15–28. Ennew, J. (1986). The Sexual Exploitation of Children. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press.
Gavey, N., & Schmidt, J. (2011). “Trauma of rape” discourse: A double-edged template for everyday understandings of the impact of rape? Violence Against Women, 17(4), 433–456.
Hamilton, B., & Coates, J. (1993). Perceived helpfulness and unhelpfulness of professional services by abused Women. Journal of Family Violence, 8(4), 313–324.
Hellman, C. M., & House, D. (2006). Volunteers serving victims of sexual assault. The Journal of Social Psychology, 146(1), 117–123.
Johnson, I. W., Pearce, C. G., Tuten, T. L., & Sinclair, L. (2003). Self-imposed silence and perceived listening effectiveness. Business Communication Quarterly, 66(2), 23–45.
Jones, H., & Cook, K. (2008). Rape crisis: Responding to sexual violence. Dorset, UK: Russell House Publishing Ltd. Jordan, J. (2001). Serial survivors: Women’s narratives of surviving rape. Sydney, NSW: The Federation Press.
Jordan, J., Patel, B., & Rapp, L. (2013). Domestic minor sex trafficking: A social work perspective on misidentification, victims, buyers, traffickers, treatment, and reform of current practice. Journal of Health Behaviour in the Social Environment, 23(3), 356–367.
Kaltman, S., Krupnick, J., Stockton, P., Hooper, L., & Green, B. L. (2005). Psychological impact of types of sexual trauma among college women. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 18(5), 547–555.
Kelleher, C., & McGilloway, S. (2009). “Nobody ever chooses this…” A qualitative study of service providers working in the sexual violence sector – key issues and challenges. Health and Social Care in the Community, 17(3), 295–303.
McMillan, L. (2013). Sexual victimisation: Disclosures, responses, and impact. In Lombard, N. & McMillan, L. (Eds.), Violence against women: current theory and practice in domestic abuse, sexual violence, and exploitation (pp. 71–86). Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
McNally, R. J., Bryant, R. A., & Ehters, A. (2003). Does early psychological intervention promote recovery from post-traumatic stress? Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 4(2), 45–79.
Murphy, S. B., Potter, S. J., Pierce-Weeks, J., Stapleton, J. G., Wiesen-Martin, D., & Phillips, K. G. (2011). Providing context for social workers’ response to sexual assault victims. Affilia, 26, 90–94.
New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault. (1992). Factsheets: Rape-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Retrieved from http:// www.svfreenyc.org/survivors_factsheet_43.html
Pack, M. (2011). Discovering an integrated framework for practice: A qualitative investigation of theories used by social workers working as sexual abuse therapists. Journal of Social Work Practice, 25(1), 79–93.
Parker CL, Everly GS, Jr., Barnett DJ, Links JM. (2006). Establishing evidence-informed core intervention competencies in psychological first aid for public health personnel. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health. Spring, 8(2): 83-92.
Peace, J. (2009). Young people and sexual exploitation: “It’s not hidden, you just aren’t looking”. New York, NY: Routledge- Cavendish.
Rath, J. (2007). Training to be a rape crisis counsellor: A qualitative study of women’s experiences. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 36(1), 19–32.
Regehr, C., Marziali, E., & Jansen, K. (1999). A qualitative analysis of strengths and vulnerabilities in sexually assaulted women.
Clinical Social Work Journal, 27(2), 170–184.
Ruzek, J. I., Brymer, M. J., Jacobs, A. K., Layne, C. M., Vernberg, C. M., & Watson, P. J. (2007). Psychological First Aid. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 29(1), 17-49.
Ullman, S. E., & Townsend, S. M. (2008). What is an empowerment approach to working with sexual assault survivors? Journal of Community Psychology, 36(3), 299-312. doi:10.1002/jcop.20198
Wasco, S. M. (2003). Conceptualising the harm done by rape: Applications of trauma theory to experiences of sexual assault.
Journal of Trauma, Violence and Abuse, 4, 309–322.
Whiste, P. N., & Rollins, J. C. (1981). Rape: A family crisis. Family Relations, 30(1), 103–109.
White, V. E.,Trippany, R. L., & Noland, J. M. (2003). Responding to sexual assault victims: considerations for college counselors. Journal of College Counseling, 6, 124-133.
Whitman, J. L. (2007). Understanding and responding to teen victims: A developmental framework. The Prevention Researcher, 14(1), 10–13.
Woody, J. D., & Beldin, K. L. (2012). The mental health focus in rape crisis services: Tensions and recommendations. Violence and Victims, 27(2), 95–108.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2015 Australian and New Zealand Social Work and Welfare Education and Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Advances in Social Work & Welfare Education by Australian and New Zealand Social Work and Welfare Education and Research (ANZSWWER) is licensed under CC BY 4.0
