Blog

The first five minutes of any service visit matters the most. That is when people decide if they feel safe, if they can trust you and if they want to keep going. Trauma informed approach training teaches the teams how to use those first minutes well: speak in clear, plain words, explain what will happen […]

We all know the statistics, We’ve all read the headlines. And perhaps, in too many devastating instances, we’ve lived in the fear, the confusion, and the silent fallout that follows sexual violence. When it comes to sexual assault prevention on college campuses in workplace, it’s not enough to simply check a box with mandatory training. […]

Post-assaulted silence is not often apathy; it is risk management. The victims weigh the security, privacy, credibility and the probability of justice and often end up concluding that they can be targeted by more injustice when they speak up. The barriers of disclosure always overlap, with legal and advocacy sources recording significant overlaps in which […]

A trauma informed approach should be considered as a culture rather than script. It is one way of perceiving others and making services in such a way that the survivors do not become victims of the very services that are intended to support them. The environment may be a school, clinic, workplace, campus event, or […]

First response matters! But WHY? The initial few minutes of a disclosure can determine whether a person would approach help again. Complementary words revive a feeling of control; insensitive remarks can intensify shame or silence. Trauma-informed communication is based on the assumption of believing the survivor and a measure of letting him or her dictate […]

Building Compassionate Systems – How Trauma Informed Approach Training and Books About Rape Change Real-World Outcomes Sexual assault is not one incident; it is a long-term violation of health, identity, safety, and trust. The damage cuts across families, friends, religions, classrooms, workplaces and court rooms. Good intentions cannot change anything; they need a common language, […]

The First Five Minutes: A Human Guide to Hearing a Disclosure, and Getting the Next Steps Right A moment when you can alter a life: somebody looks at you and decides to tell you what has happened. The words are spilled, or not. Perhaps it is a hurried sentence, or a long, stilted story. During [...]

Over the past few years, I’ve talked to many victims of sexual assault.  In many cases, as they shared their stories, they mention things that they should have done differently.  Sometimes it’s “if I would had done X” or “if I would not have done Y” this wouldn’t have happened to me.  I feel bad […]