Domestic abuse can have severe and lasting impacts on all aspects of life. Including relationships, mental and physical health. Yet many victims and survivors struggle to receive the support they might benefit from.
Domestic abuse is not a single thing. It can take many forms. Although, of course women are overwhelmingly the victims of abuse, it can affect anyone. It can be hidden. It can be denied. Its effects can appear as unrelated presentations.
So, therapists face undeniable and understandable challenges in supporting victims. From identifying signs of abuse, to tailoring support to meet specific needs.
This conference will be a gateway for therapists looking to better understand abuse and its complexity. The needs and experiences of some diverse groups will be explored. A key and prevalent form of abuse will be examined. And safeguarding frameworks and practices explained.
This is an edited recording of the conference in June 2023.
Part 1: Georgina Clifford – The mechanisms and psychological impact of coercive control
Part 2: Damian McCann – Understanding and responding to domestic violence and abuse in same-sex couple relationships: Is couple therapy really an option?
Part 3: Mark Brooks OBE – Key statistics and barriers facing male victims of domestic abuse
Part 4: Ruth Bashall – Domestic Abuse and Disability
Part 5: Ewa Wnorowska – Safeguarding adults and children within the context of domestic abuse
Speakers
Ruth Bashall
Ruth Bashall is the Director of Stay Safe East, a pioneering user-led charity working with disabled survivors of abuse – domestic and sexual violence, hate crime and other human rights abuse . Stay Safe East provide training and consultancy to service providers and policy makers, and offer policy advice. Ruth is a prominent activist and consultant on disability issues and continues to be involved in organisations of disabled people.
Mark Brooks OBE
Mark Brooks is the trustee chair of the ManKind Initiative and a qualified domestic abuse services manager. He was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list for his work supporting male victims of domestic abuse. He advises government/statutory departments/agencies on how to better support male victims, he co-created a one day CPD accredited training course and quality service standards. Professionally he has been the communications director of two national charities and is currently working on public policy projects in the men’s wellbeing and inclusion sector. He is also a national ambassador for International Men’s Day UK and a co-founder trustee of the Men and Boys Coalition, an umbrella charity representing charities, organisations and academics who support the wellbeing of men and boys in the UK.
Georgina Clifford
Dr Georgina Clifford is Director of the London Trauma Specialists clinic, a trauma specialist and experienced Clinical Psychologist who worked in specialist trauma services in the NHS for several years. She qualified with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) from Royal Holloway, University of London and has recently completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge: Emotion, memory and the self in complex post-traumatic stress following repeated interpersonal trauma. Dr Clifford adopts an integrative approach to treatment, using Trauma focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Compassion-Focused Therapy and Narrative approaches. She has experience and expertise in treating psychological presentations in the aftermath of traumatic experiences, including: accidents; rape and sexual assault; childhood abuse; domestic violence; trafficking, war and torture. She has a special interest and growing expertise in the area of birth trauma. Dr Clifford takes instruction for expert witness work for the court and her opinion has been accepted in a range of courts, including the Central Criminal Court.
Dr Damian McCann
Dr Damian McCann, D.Sys.Psych, is a senior psychoanalytic couple psychotherapist and consultant family and systemic psychotherapist. He is a visiting clinician and lecturer at Tavistock Relationships, London, and adjunct faculty member of the International Psychotherapy Institute (IPI) Washington DC. He has a particular interest in working with same-sex couple relationships and his doctoral research was concerned with understanding the meaning and impact of violence in the couple relationships of gay men. He is editor of ‘Same-Sex Couples and Other Identities: Psychoanalytic Perspectives’ published by Routledge for the Library of Couple & Family Psychoanalysis in 2022.
Ewa Wnorowska
Ewa Wnorowska, Safeguarding Practice Development Consultant, SCIE. Ewa works with a wide range of organisations from across different sectors, developing and delivering bespoke safeguarding adults and children training and resources, as well as providing guidance around policies and procedures. Ewa’s previous experience includes working with children’s services where her role of a Senior Domestic Abuse Practitioner required her to provide consultancy and guidance to qualified social workers as well as Early Help practitioners working with cases featuring domestic abuse. Ewa also shared her expertise at strategy meetings and Initial Child Protection Conferences. Ewa’s experience includes risk assessment, risk management and safety planning within the context of domestic abuse, as well as delivering one-to-one and group evidence-based interventions to adults who use violence in their close relationships. Ewa has dedicated much of her career to working within the third sector, particularly directly with both victims and survivors, as well as with perpetrators of abuse.
