Caring Conversations about Sexual Violence: Using BARCC’s SEECK Model from Initial Response to Treatment

Talking about sexual violence is challenging for everyone. Trying to do so during a crisis can make it even more challenging to respond to disclosures and support people seeking help. Many survivors are afraid of how others will react, so they choose not to share about what they've experienced. Many mental health and medical professionals never ask their clients about experiences of sexual violence—or if they do, they may never talk about it again. We've heard this repeatedly from survivors we've supported at BARCC. 

In this 90-minute training, you will gain the understanding and skills you need to appropriately respond to disclosures, particularly when building a therapeutic relationship. Participants will learn concrete skills to work with survivors starting with the initial disclosure through ongoing treatment. 

For clinicians, mental health professionals, and medical professionals in private practice or at agencies—anyone who works professionally in a clinical setting with survivors in ongoing relationships.

Goals

• Understand the dynamics of sexual violence, its lifelong impacts, and the effects of the current crisis on survivors
• Understand the importance of and increase confidence with handling initial disclosures of sexual violence by addressing safety, empathy, empowerment, connection, and knowledge (SEECK)
• Build intervention skills, using a crisis intervention framework and BARCC’s SEECK model, to begin treatment with survivors of sexual violence during the current crises and beyond

Presenter

• Sharon Imperato, Projector Director of Clinical Training and Technical Assistance