“ What Happened to You ?”

1. “What Happened to You?” The Traumatic Experience of Domestic Violence Rachel Ramirez Hammond, MA, MSW, LISW-S Ohio Domestic Violence Network rachelr@odvn.org

2. Why is this important? • WeLEARNabout domestic violence and other traumatic experiences • We USEthis knowledge of trauma and its impact to: Define, shape, modify and maybe change what we do and how we do things with victims of traumatic experiences

4. Start with the Doctor’s Advice With Ourselves….

5. Think about a time when you were victimized • What did you do? • How did you feel? • What did you think about? • Has the experience had any aftereffects? Did it change your life in any way?

6. What helped you heal? • Who did you tell about the experience? Why did you pick that person/people? • Who did you choose not to tell? • What did you need in the immediate aftermath?

8. What is Traumatic Stress? Hallmark of trauma: An overwhelming experience. Trauma leaves me feeling powerless From Homelessness Resource Center Traumatic Stress Training Package Source: Herman, J. (1992). Trauma and recovery. New York: Basic Books.

9. Key point number one:

12. Generally what we think: “What do I do when a person’sbehavior gets in the way of the work, gets in the way of her responding to the information we give, and with her using the services we have?”

13. What if we thought: “What do I do when trauma’s impactgets in the way of the work, gets in the way of her responding to the information we give, and with her using the services we have?”

14. Shift our view: Symptoms are ADAPTATIONS to past threats

15. Practicing trauma-informed care Don’t ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up. Robert Frost Adapted from Trauma-Informed Care Presentation for Oregon State Hospital

17. How does this change our work? • Connect peoples behaviors and challenges with their EXPERIENCES, not THEM. • Creates space to talk about the impact of domestic violence and other traumatic experiences, which is essential to healing. • Facilitates building safety and a collaborative relationship.

19. Domestic Violence and Trauma When you hear the words domestic violence, what words or images pop into your head?

20. More than just hitting: What is battering? “an ongoing patterned use of intimidation, coercion, and violence as well as other tactics of control to establish and maintain a relationship of dominance over an intimate partner (adult and adolescent).” Pence and Dasgupta, 2006

21. Key point number two: • Domestic violence is a PATTERNof behaviors.

22. VIOLENCE SEXUAL PHYSICAL USING ISOLATION USING EMOTIONAL ABUSE USING ECONOMIC ABUSE USING INTIMIDATION POWER AND CONTROL USING COERCION AND THREATS MINIMIZING, DENYING AND BLAMING USING CHILDREN USING MALE PRIVLEGE VIOLENCE

23. The SUM is more than its parts.

24. Answer your question.. So…why do they stay??

25. Domestic Violence and Trauma “The survivor’s feeling of fear, distrust and isolation may be compounded by the incomprehension or frank hostility of those who she turns for help. When the abuser is a husband or lover, the traumatized person is the most vulnerable of all, for the person to whom she might ordinarily turn to for safety and protection is precisely the source of danger.” Judith Herman TIC Manual, p. 16

26. Dynamics of domestic violence: • Prolonged, repeated trauma only occurs in a situation of captivity. • Dynamics of dominationandsubordination

27. Amnesty International Says: • "Most people who brainwash...use methods similar to those of prison guards who recognize that physical control is never easily accomplished without the cooperation of the prisoner. The most effective way to gain that cooperation is through subversive manipulation of the mind and feelings of the victim, who then becomes a psychological, as well as a physical, prisoner.“from an Amnesty International publication, "Report on Torture", which depicts the brainwashing of prisoners of war.

28. Key point number three: • The PATTERN of abusive behavior can impact many areas of a victim’s life.

29. It can impact: • My brain • My body • My thoughts • My behaviors • My responses • My worldview • My relationships • How I seek help • How I parent and relate to my children • How I cope • How I communicate and interact • How I respond to people • What helps me feel better

30. Impact of Trauma: Accessing/Receiving Services “I had been coerced intro treatment by people who said they’re trying to help…These things all re-stimulated the feelings of futility, reawakening the sense of hopelessness, loss of control I experienced when being abused. Without exception, these episodes reinforced my sense of distrust in people and belief that help meant humiliation, loss of control, and dignity.” - Laura Prescott Kraybill & Morrisson (2007). Assessing Health, Promoting Wellness: A Guide for Non-Medical Providers of Care for People Experiencing Homelessness. SAMHSA: Homelessness Resource Center, p. 38.

31. Recovering from trauma • Safety and stabilization • Remembrance and mourning • Reconnection Judith Herman, Trauma and Recovery

32. When working with trauma survivors:

34. Healing and recovery is based on the 3 C’s • Choice • Control • Connection In a SAFE space

35. In trauma work there is no such a thing as resistance—either a person feels safe or they don’t. Our responsibility is to be the safe person to be with and engage in treatment strategies that the person feels safe and in control enough to engage/experience. William Steele, National Institute on Loss in Children

36. Make trauma survivors feel RICH • Respected • Informed • Connected • Hopeful

37. CHANGE OUR DEFAULT EXPECTATIONS

38. Three things we can do: Validate, normalize, and educate

39. Also….. • Remember, “What happened to you?” • Connect to local domestic violence resources • Acknowledge and provide services recognizing that safety of child and non-abusive parent are usually intertwined

40. TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE BEST PRACTICES AND PROTOCOLS FOR OHIO’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS 2013 EDITION Funded by: The Ohio Department of Mental Health Sonia D. Ferencik, MSSA, LISW Rachel Ramirez-Hammond, MA, MSW, LISW

41. Trauma-Informed Care: Best Practices and Protocols for Ohio’s Domestic Violence Programs Go to www.odvn.org Click on “resource center” Go to “publications” Scroll down for link to PDF copy of trauma-informed care manual and webinar

42. Trauma-Informed Care Best Practices and Protocols • Introduction • Understanding trauma • Responding to trauma • Best practices (16) • Protocols (on 6 common DV program services) • Vicarious trauma • Appendices • Including trauma and you handout

43. Resources for Presentation • Developing Trauma-Informed Practices and Environments: First Steps by Terri Pease http://www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org/trainingta/webinars-seminars/ • Dr. Bruce Perry and the Child Trauma Academy www.childtrauma.org • Homeless Resource Center Traumatic Stress Training Package http://homeless.samhsa.gov/Resource/View.aspx?id=33070&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

44. Check out this website www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org Under “Resources and Publications” • Conversation Series • Tipsheet Series

45. And this one too: Supporting critical thinking, learning and victim-defined advocacy www.bcsdv.org, check out resources

46. Thank you!! Rachel Ramirez, MA, MSW, LISW-S Training Coordinator rachelr@odvn.org