In Queensland
Two day workshop ‘Building worker confidence and competence in working with men who have experienced childhood sexual abuse or sexual assault.’
Dates - Thursday 20th and Friday 21st May 2010. Trainers - Dr Gary Foster & Kent Smith.
Venue Spiritus Kinections, 5 Reid Street, Woolloongabba - Cost $240 per person (includes GST and lunch and tea both days)
Content
This workshop is designed to build worker confidence and competence in talking with and assisting adult and young men who have experienced childhood sexual abuse or sexual assault. The training will draw on current best practice literature and will encourage participants to examine and enhance their professional knowledge and skills. Creative, interactive processes will be utilised to:
present what is currently known about male sexual victimisation
identify, explore the cultural beliefs/misunderstandings associated with male childhood sexual abuse and the identified barriers to gaining assistance, along with ways to overcome these.
critically examine and work through recurring questions around gender, sexuality and the cycle of abuse.
offer a framework with specific strategies for working with men who have experienced sexual exploitation (both recent and historic) that acknowledges the effects, prioritises safety and helps to diminish the influences of abuse in men’s lives and relationships.
Kent and Gary will jointly co-facilitate both days, and will demonstrate and provide participants with practice tools that facilitate helpful conversations around this complex issue. To ensure a focus on enhanced knowledge and skill development spaces are limited to 22 participants and copies of presentation material with links to useful resources will be supplied. Gary and Kent are cognisant of the sensitivity of the topic, and the personal and professional impact of work in this area, and therefore place an emphasis on choice and safety in creating a
respectful learning environment.
Click here for workshop flyer and registration form
Living well group for men
Unfortunately the living well group for men will not be running in March 2009 as planned. See the below contact addresses if you require further information.
The Living Well men’s group is a 10 week group program specifically designed to assist men who have experienced childhood sexual abuse or sexual assault. Topics men have found useful in the past include:
- Prioritising personal safety and wellbeing
- Ways of managing the negative effects of abuse
- Leaving behind unhelpful thoughts and behaviours
- Re-examining silence and secrecy and putting aside guilt and shame
- Choosing whether to tell
- Confronting limiting ideas of how men should be
- Exploring sexuality and choice
- Developing self awareness and practising self care
- Building respectful relationships and intimacy
- Moving on
What some previous participants have said about the Living Well men’s group:
“The group has been such a great help. Unbelievable really”
“The group helped me open up more and know that I am not the only one having trouble
dealing with this stuff. I now have hope”
“Now I think of sexual abuse as something that happened to me: it no longer defines me!”
How to join the Living Well group
We invite you to come along and check us out! Make an appointment for a pre-group interview, intended to
provide information and ensure your needs are being met. There is no charge for the initial meeting or group attendance.
Duration 10 weeks
Day Wednesday
Start To Be Announced
Time 6.00 pm to 8.30 pm (with break and refreshments).
Venue 5 Reid Street, Woolloongabba Q 4102
For more information contact Gary at Kinections on 07 3435 4300 or email gfoster@spiritus.org.au