One Day Training
TRUTH TELLING: TOWARDS A MALE-CENTRED APPROACH TO THERAPY
Tired dichotomies, ideological lens, female-centred approaches to therapy. These factors all suggest barriers to effective change with men, whether they be offenders, victims, or men who are both. Even when we attempt to provide a gender-neutral approach to therapy, we tend to treat male clients using models and standards designed for female clients.
Truth Telling will explore both the conceptual and practice implications of a male-centred approach to therapy. Examining many of the concepts imbedded in the new psychology of masculinity, this workshop will allow for a necessary conversation of what constitutes an approach that speaks to men. This is essential learning in taking on work with male survivors, and is vital to ensure trauma treatment services have integrity and relevance in speaking to the reality of men’s lives.
IT HAPPENS IT MATTERS: AN INTRODUCTION TO MALE SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION
It Happens, It Matters is an introductory training on male sexual victimization. The purpose of this training is to serve as an introduction to the basic concepts, theories and approaches to working with male survivors to frontline professionals and volunteers. In many respects, this is prerequisite learning before participants can engage in intervention strategies with this population.
This day is ideal to provide a condensed orientation of this issue to front-line workers who come across male survivors in the course of their duties (e.g. victim services staff, child protection workers, police officers) or as a component to a broader conference or training on issues concerning victimization and victim services.
PSYCHO-DRAMATIC TECHNIQUES FOR TRAUMA THERAPISTS
Noted trauma therapist Bessel van der Kolk stated that experiential treatment is the treatment of choice for treating PTSD. Jacob Moreno, the founder of psychodrama, defined and measured mental health by one's spontaneity. These approaches challenge much of the cognitive and narrative conventions that are the basis of most counselling practitioners. What gives?
Psycho-Dramatic Techniques for Trauma Therapists is a hands-on workshop that will focus on three core experiential therapy skills for trauma therapists that have evolved from the Therapeutic Spiral Model approach to trauma therapy (Kate Hudgins): The Containing Double, The Observing Ego and Roles of Restoration. Like all good approaches to experiential therapy, participants will not only be taught these techniques, but will have ample opportunity to practice them under the supervision of two of Ottawa’s best. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves!
SEX STUFF: DYSREGULATED SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR & INTERVENTION & MORE
Inevitably, the wounds of many male survivors permeate into their sexual and intimate lives. Sexuality issues abound: sexual compulsions, sexual identity confusion, sexual risk taking, sexual anorexia, infidelity, homophobia, fears of intimacy – and the list goes on. Given the weight of shame, these issues are generally not self-identified by survivors. It requires knowledgeable, sensitive and strategic interventions to bring these forward.
The training will have a particular focus on understanding and engaging with dysregulated sexual behaviour. Amid the hype and media coverage of high profile celebrity cases, the “sex addiction” approach to conceptualizing poorly regulated sexual behaviour is often presented uncritically as the treatment modality of choice. This training will critically examine the assumptions and limitations of the sex addiction model in treating dysregulated sexual behaviour. As well as utilize clinical material to explore constructive treatment options grounded in the basics of psychotherapy.
