Come walk with us for a great cause! San Francisco Women Against Rape invites you to participate in our 3rd annual Walk Against Rape. As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Walk Against Rape will be held on April 19th, 2008. The walk is a celebration that empowers survivors, their friends, families and supporters, and serves to break the silence by walking together on the streets against rape, and declare that San Francisco will not tolerate sexual violence. It is a 3.1 mile walk starting at Justin Herman Plaza at 10am and culminating in a rally at noon in Dolores Mission Park. Walkers will arrive in the park to find festivities such as speakers, performances, the Clothesline Project on display, prizes for the highest fundraisers, several community organizations offering information and resources, and food and drink. At SFWAR, we believe that no single individual, organization, foundation, or business alone can stop the epidemic of sexual assault, but by responding as a whole community, we each bring our piece of the solution. This is where your participation counts! Join us as we make visible what has historically been silenced and invisible. For more information, please visit our website at www.sfwar.org  or call 415-861-2024.

Registration is now OPEN for CALCASA's 2008 Statewide Leadership Conference.

Download the Conference Brochure here:
http://www.calcasa.org/brochure08.html

Begin an Online Conference Registration here:
http://www.calcasa.org/reg08.html
 

Effective Counseling for Survivors of Sexual Violence

Tiombe Preston, MS, MFT

This presentation is designed to explore counseling strategies for working with survivors of sexual violence. The presenter will examine ways of working more effectively with this population in multiple settings. The workshop will help crisis counselors, case managers, and clinicians enhance their skills in addressing the needs of survivors of sexual violence. The presentation will encourage exploration of the myths and stigma often associated with sexual violence and how to successfully address this with survivors. The workshop will promote understanding of the ways in which experiencing sexual violence intersects with trauma (PTSD) and mental health concerns. The presentation will include examples of the presenter’s experiences in creating and facilitating direct services for survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones in various social service settings. The presenter will help service providers examine important issues in working with survivors including gender, boundaries, survivors with psychiatric disabilities, and building support for the survivor. Examples of the presenter’s work in training first responders including medical personnel, law enforcement, counselors, social workers, and advocates will give ideas for implementation of the counseling strategies in individual and group counseling. Interactive exercises will help participants learn strategies to aid survivors of sexual violence in healing from partner rape, child sexual abuse, and sexual assault. This presentation will help participants look at these crimes in a social framework that is inclusive of the diverse identities of the survivors they serve. The presentation has relevance for first responders, crisis counselors and experienced therapists who work with or train and supervise those who work with survivors of sexual violence. Material will be presented to encourage participants’ ability to incorporate the techniques presented into their everyday work, and agency training.