TRAUMA AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE - PowerPoint Presentation

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TRAUMA AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE

common dynamics in COLLEGE STUDENTS

Willa Campbell, BS, Victim Advocate

Susie Balcom, MSW, Victim Advocate 

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Our Mission

To respond, educate, and advocate to end sexual violence.

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Sexual Violence

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NON-TOUCH

TOUCH

Voyeurism/ peeping

Forcing someone to watch or participate in pornography

Verbal comments

Exposing genitals

Taking sexualized photographs

Dissemination of intimate images (revenge porn)

Images of child sexual abuse (child pornography)

Touch/grab body partsIntercourse with penetration (oral/anal/vaginal) Penetration with objects Survival sexInstitutional & statutory sexual assault Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking

Sexual Violence

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Understanding the Landscape

All reference information (1-6) available on “resources” slide.

People with a disability are twice as likely to experience sexual violence.

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60% of black girls will experience childhood sexual abuse.

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1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused by age 18.

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1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men have experienced sexual violence.

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People are more likely to blame the victim if they are black or L

atinx

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People who identify as transgender are significantly less likely to seek help from service providers.

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Intersectionality

The interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage; a theoretical approach based on such a premise.

(Oxford Dictionary)

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COMMON REACTIONS AMONG MALE-IDENTIFIED SURVIVORS

Shame and self-doubt, believing men should be “strong enough” to stop an assault

Confusion about normal physiological responses during the incident

Concerns or questions about sexual orientation

Feeling like “less of a man” or that you no longer have control over your own body

Withdrawal from relationships or friendships and an increased sense of isolation

Worry about disclosing and the fear of judgement or disbelief

Sexual Violence and Men

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Sexual Violence on Campus

90%

of sexual assaults are committed by a friend or acquaintance.

AND

50%

of cases involve alcohol consumption by the victim, perpetrator, or both.

College students are most at risk in the

first 6 weeks of their college experience.

73% of LGBTQ+ students experience sexual assault or harassment and 6% of those students change schools.

Students with disabilities experience sexual violence on campus at 3x the rate than students without disabilities. Estimates are 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college.RAINN

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Sexual Violence on Campus

The "Red Zone"

A time of statistically higher instances of sexual assault: spanning the start of the fall semester through Thanksgiving break when 50% of college sexual assaults occur.

 

84% of survivors

reporting being sexually assaulted during their first four semester on campus

College students are most at risk in the first 6 weeks to 10 of their college experience#ReclaimRedZones at End Rape On Campus (EROC)

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“Sexual violence is one of the most

UNDER-REPORTED CRIMES

with

68%

of assaults left unreported.”

Reporting Sexual Violence

For sexual assaults that take place on college campuses,

93%

remain unreported.

U.S. Department of Justice – National Crime Victimization Survey (2008-2012). White House Not Alone Report (2017).

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Barriers in Disclosure

College students cite a number of reasons for not reporting –

Not wanting others to know

Lack of proof

Fear of retaliation

Being unsure of whether what happened constitutes assault

Not knowing how to report

Fear of being treated poorly by the criminal justice system

Common barriers (non-age specific) –

Shame and guiltFear of not being believedLack of support Relationship to perpetratorUnaware of options/resources

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“Perfect victim” is the model against which all other (normal, flawed, human) victims are judged.

“The perfect victim says no clearly and often, fights off her attacker like a honey badger, and if she can’t get away, she continues to profess her non-consent throughout the encounter, ideally by shouting “no” and continuing to fight as best she can.”

The Sydney Morning Herald-

Schetzer

, Alana: "

The 'Perfect Victim" of Sexual Assault is a Muth That Needs To Go" (April 2017) 

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"The myth of the perfect victim is just the opposite side of the monster myth coin. 

For years, women have been taught to be careful walking alone at night, looking out for the bogeyman who's going to jump out of the dark and grab them and drag them away. Yet most sexual crimes are committed by people known by the victim, and often in their own homes."

The Sydney Morning Herald-

Schetzer

, Alana: "

The 'Perfect Victim" of Sexual Assault is a

Muth

That Needs To Go" (April 2017) 

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“The intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging – something we’ve experienced, done, or failed to do makes us unworthy of connection.” (Dr.

Brene

Brown)

Shame and secrecy

are central to sexual trauma

Victims might feel responsible for the abuse, and feel shame as a result: “I was assaulted because I am (…)”

Shame and Secrecy

Rita Abadi, LMHC – Mt. Sinai Hospital (2017)

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“The

FIRST RESPONSE

to victims is critical in determining how victims cope.”

U.S. Department of Justice, the Office of Victims of Crime

Research Shows

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trauma THEORY

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DSM-5 AND TRAUMA

The person experienced, witnessed or was confronted with an event(s) that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others.

The person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness or horror.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) – 309.81 PTSD (2013)

Understanding Trauma

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Understanding Trauma

One single, overwhelming event.

ACUTE TRAUMA

Extended exposure to trauma and experiences that are linked to development and/or relationships.

COMPLEX TRAUMA

“The experience of multiple, chronic and prolonged, developmentally adverse traumatic events, most often of an interpersonal nature.. and an early life onset.”

(Besel van der Kolk, 2005)

Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. – The Body Keeps the Score (2014).

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TRAUMA COULD LOOK LIKE –

Inability to regulate emotions  

(anger and aggression)

Emotional numbing

Feeling isolated or unable to form connections

Unhealthy coping skills

“Survival mode” and automated brain response – Fight / Flight/ Freeze / Fawn Lack of language to attach to the experienceMemory gaps and/or non-linear progression

Understanding Trauma

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TRAUMA OVERWHELMS OUR ABILITLY TO

Have a sense of control

Make meaning of our experience

Maintain connection to others

The Brain & Trauma

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT OUR BRAIN FUNCTIONS DIFFERENTLY WHEN WE EXPERIENCE TRAUMA.

Judith Herman, M.D. –

Trauma and Recovery

(1997).

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The Brain & Trauma

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TRAUMA RESPONSES

FIGHT  

Crying

Hands and jaw clenched, grinding teeth

Fight in eyes, glaring, fight in voice

Desire to stomp, kick, punch

Feelings of anger/rageHomicidal/suicidal feelingsKnotted stomach/nausea, burning stomach

FLIGHTRestless legs/feetNumbness in extremitiesAnxiety/shallow breathingBig/daring eyesLeg/foot movementFeeling fidgety, trapped, tense or restlessSense of running for life, activity focusedFREEZEFeeling stuck in some part of bodyFeeling frozen/numb/coldSense of stiffness, heavinessHolding breath/restricted breathingSense of dread, heart poundingDecreased heart rateFeeling of tolerating the stressFAWNPeople pleasingComplying with other's wishes or demandsCaring for others over your own detrimentUnable to say how you really think or feelFlattering othersAvoiding conflict

Feelings of being taken advantage ofOverly concerned with others

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COMMON RESPONSES AND EXPERIENCES

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NIH – Dworkin, Menon,

Bystrynski

and Allen:

"Sexual Assault victimization and psychopathology: A review and meta-analysis“

(2017).

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DEVELOPING A RESPONSE

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EMPOWERMENT AND STRENGTHS – BASED APPROACH

Understand and communicate the limits of your confidentiality

Utilize active listening skills

Provide choice and control, however small

Look for opportunities to acknowledge their resilience/ strengths

Responding to College Students

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Mitigating Trauma

PROMOTE SAFETY –

Create areas that are calm and comfortable

Acknowledge the difficulty of talking about the incident

Preface sensitive questions with why the question is being asked

PROVIDE CHOICE –

Provide choices and control – spectrum of participation

Explain purpose and what will happen next

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Mitigating Trauma

COLLABORATION AND TRUST –

Check in with yourself: are they informed and involved

Provide clear, consistent information

Be mindful of language and implications

EMPOWER –

Look to their capabilities and strengths

Promote access to resources and opportunities to heal

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BELIEVE AND EMPOWER

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NORMALIZE AND VALIDATE

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The Helpline

Confidential information and support, available in (3) ways:

Call the Helpline, 24/7

PAAR Services

TEXT MESSAGE*

Information and support, available by sending a text message to the PAAR Helpline.

CHAT PORTAL*

Live chat with a Helpline worker by clicking the Chat Portal on the PAAR website (

www.paar.net

):

1-866-END-RAPE

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CLINICAL SERVICES

PAAR provides individual and group trauma therapy at no cost. PAAR’s comprehensive evidence-based treatment approaches can help survivors manage their

emotions

and begin the healing process:

INDIVIDUAL TRAUMA THERAPY

GROUPS

CHILD AND FAMILY COUNSELING CENTER

VICTIM RESPONSE TEAM

MEDICAL ADVOCACY

LEGAL ADVOCACY AND ACCOMPANIMENTCRISIS COUNSELING IN VARIOUS SETTINGSPAAR Services1-866-END-RAPE

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CITED MATERIAL

Resources

Intersectionality statistics

:

VERA Institute – Nancy Smith and Sandra Harrell,

Sexual abuse of children with disabilities: A national snapshot

(March 2013). YWCA: Gender-based Violence Fact SheetStotzer, R. (2009)

National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)UNICEF – Sexual and gender-based violence against refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons (May 2003). CALCASA

Sexual Violence on Campus statistics: 123456

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CITED MATERIAL

Resources

Tea and Consent Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGoWLWS4-kU

The Guardian: Male rape survivors suffer in silence. We need to help them talk (2020).

Judith Herman, M.D. – Trauma and Recovery: The aftermath of violence, from domestic abuse to political terror (2015).

Jim Hopper, Ph.D. – Sexual Assault and the Brain (2019).

NIH – Dworkin, Menon, Bystrynski and Allen: "Sexual Assault victimization and psychopathology: A review and meta-analysis“ (2017). Brene Brown on Empathy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw&feature=youtu.be

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Resources

Additional reading

:

The Body Keeps the Score (Bessel Van der Kolk)

The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity (Dr. Nadine Burke Harris)

Marissa Korbel in Harpers Bazaar:

Sometimes you make your rapist breakfast

(2018). https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a19158567/what-is-rape/Juliette

Virzi in The Mighty: Fawning: The fourth trauma response we don’t talk about (2020). https://themighty.com/2020/01/fight-flight-freeze-fawn-trauma-responses/Sammy

Caiola in CapRadio: Sexual Assault Survivors Want Less Police, More Trauma-Informed Professionals – Especially for Black Victims (2020). https://www.capradio.org/articles/2020/07/28/sexual-assault-survivors-want-less-police-more-trauma-informed-professionals-especially-for-black-victims/

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81 S. 19

th

St.

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

P: (412) 431-5665

1-866-END-RAPE

paar.net