What Do I Say? Responding to Sexual Harm Disclosures with Confidence

Build confidence and practical skill in understanding, encouraging, and responding sensitively to disclosures of sexual victimisation

Description

Aim

Sexual victimisation is, unfortunately, an everyday occurrence in our society. Professionals working in the mental health field often do not undergo training around how to encourage and manage a disclosure by a person that they have been sexually abused or assaulted. Indeed, allied health professionals generally may receive disclosures, and are unsure how to manage them, often wondering “what am I supposed to say?”.

Overview and Learning Intentions

In this workshop, you will:

  • Learn how to optimise safety in therapeutic settings to maximise the likelihood your clients/patients will voluntarily disclose sexual victimisation

  • Learn how to effectively manage disclosures when they are made (regardless of whether you work in the mental health field or not)

  • Disentangle the complexity of the disclosure process with a theoretically constructed, and empirically validated, model of disclosure

  • Understand the importance of routine enquiry of sexual victimisation of new clients/patients

  • Become confident in both encouraging voluntary disclosures and handling them when they occur

Who Should Attend

While much of the content will be of immediate benefit to those who work in the mental health field, anyone – professional or otherwise – who has, or may, receive a disclosure by someone who has been sexually violated, will find the content in this workshop invaluable. This can include GP’s, teachers, OT carers, support workers, lawyers, police etc.

Facilitated by Dr Ash Catton

PhD

Ash (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki) recently graduated with a PhD from the University of Canterbury in psychology. His research focuses on sexual victimisation among both children and adults, with special attention to disentangling the complex process of victims’ disclosure of their abuse/assault. He has published papers on shame, victim blame, emotional invalidation, and the importance of gender inclusivity when researching sexual assault.

Workshop Type: Introductory | Workshop Level: Four | Catering: Refreshments provided

Terms and Conditions

  • Cancellations made up to 10 working days before a workshop will incur a $39 service fee.

  • Cancellations (or non-attendance) made 10 working days or less will not be refunded and the full workshop fee will be charged. 

  • No fee applies if you are able to find a replacement participant.

  • MHERC reserves the right to cancel a workshop at any time due to unforeseen circumstances or insufficient registrations.

  • Only one person may view a webinar session per registration.

Please read our full Terms and Conditions before registering.