““What What Happened to Happened to YouYou?”?”The Traumatic Experience of Domestic Violence

Rachel Ramirez Hammond, MA, MSW, LISW-S

Ohio Domestic Violence Network

rachelr@odvn.org

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Why is this important?Why is this important?1. We LEARN about domestic

violence and other traumatic experiences

2. We USE this knowledge of trauma and its impact to:

Define, shape, modify and maybe change what we do and how we do things with victims of traumatic experiences

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Start with the Doctor’s Start with the Doctor’s AdviceAdvice

With Ourselves….

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Think about a time when Think about a time when you were victimizedyou were victimized

What did you do?How did you feel?What did you think about?Has the experience had any

aftereffects? Did it change your life in any way?

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What helped you heal?What helped you heal?

Who did you tell about the experience? Why did you pick that person/people?

Who did you choose not to tell?

What did you need in the immediate aftermath?

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What is Traumatic Stress?What is Traumatic Stress?

Hallmark of trauma: An overwhelming experience.

Trauma leaves me Trauma leaves me feeling powerlessfeeling powerless

From Homelessness Resource Center Traumatic Stress Training

Package8

Source: Herman, J. (1992). Trauma and recovery. New York: Basic Books.

Key point number one: Key point number one:

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Generally what we think:Generally what we think:

“What do I do when a person’s behavior gets in the way of the work, gets in the way of her responding to the information we give, and with her using the services we have?”

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What if we thought:What if we thought:

“What do I do when trauma’s impact gets in the way of the work, gets in the way of her responding to the information we give, and with her using the services we have?”

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Shift our view:Shift our view:

Symptoms are ADAPTATIONS to past threats

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Practicing trauma-informed Practicing trauma-informed carecare

Adapted from Trauma-Informed Care Presentation for Oregon State Hospital 15

Don’t ever take a fence down until you know why it was put

up.

Robert Frost

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How does this change our How does this change our work?work?Connect peoples behaviors and

challenges with their EXPERIENCES, not THEM.

Creates space to talk about the impact of domestic violence and other traumatic experiences, which is essential to healing.

Facilitates building safety and a collaborative relationship.

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Domestic Violence and Domestic Violence and TraumaTraumaWhen you hear the words domestic violence, what words or images pop into your head?

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More than just hitting:More than just hitting:

What is battering?“an ongoing patterned use of intimidation, coercion, and violence as well as other tactics of control to establish and maintain a relationship of dominance over an intimate partner (adult and adolescent).”

20Pence and Dasgupta, 2006

Key point number Key point number two:two:

Domestic violence is a

PATTERN of behaviors.

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POWER AND

CONTROL

USING ISOLATIO

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USING EMOTIONAL

ABUSE

USING ECONOMIC

ABUSE

MINIMIZING, DENYING

AND BLAMING

USING MALE

PRIVLEGE

USING CHILDREN

USING COERCION

AND THREATS

USING INTIMIDATIO

N

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The SUM is more than its parts.

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Answer your question..Answer your question..

So…why do they stay??

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Domestic Violence and Domestic Violence and TraumaTrauma

“The survivor’s feeling of fear, distrust and isolation may be compounded by the incomprehension or frank hostility of those who she turns for help. When the abuser is a husband or lover, the

traumatized person is the most vulnerable of all, for the person to

whom she might ordinarily turn to for safety and protection is precisely the

source of danger.” Judith Herman

TIC Manual, p. 16 25

Dynamics of domestic Dynamics of domestic violence:violence:

Prolonged, repeated trauma only occurs in a situation of captivity.

Dynamics of domination and

subordination

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Amnesty International Amnesty International Says: Says: "Most people who brainwash...use

methods similar to those of prison guards who recognize that physical control is never easily accomplished without the cooperation of the prisoner. The most effective way to gain that cooperation is through subversive manipulation of the mind and feelings of the victim, who then becomes a psychological, as well as a physical, prisoner.“

from an Amnesty International publication, "Report on Torture", which depicts the brainwashing of prisoners of war.

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Key point number three:Key point number three:

The PATTERN of abusive behavior can impact many areas of a victim’s

life. 28

It It cancan impact: impact:

My brain My body My thoughtsMy behaviorsMy responsesMy worldviewMy relationshipsHow I seek help

How I parent and relate to my children

How I copeHow I communicate

and interactHow I respond to

peopleWhat helps me feel

better

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Impact of Trauma: Impact of Trauma: Accessing/Receiving Accessing/Receiving ServicesServices

“I had been coerced intro treatment by people who said they’re trying to help…

These things all re-stimulated the feelings of futility, reawakening the

sense of hopelessness, loss of control I experienced when being abused.

Without exception, these episodes reinforced my sense of distrust in people and belief that help meant humiliation, loss of control, and

dignity.” - Laura Prescott

Kraybill & Morrisson (2007). Assessing Health, Promoting Wellness: A Guide for Non-Medical Providers of Care for People Experiencing Homelessness. SAMHSA: Homelessness Resource Center, p. 38. 30

Recovering from traumaRecovering from trauma

1. Safety and stabilization

2. Remembrance and mourning

3. ReconnectionJudith Herman, Trauma and Recovery 31

When working with When working with trauma survivors:trauma survivors:

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Healing and recovery is Healing and recovery is based on the 3 C’sbased on the 3 C’s

ChoiceControlConnectionIn a SAFE space

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In trauma work there is no such a thing as resistance—either a

person feels safe or they don’t. Our responsibility is to be the

safe person to be with and engage in treatment strategies

that the person feels safe and in control enough to

engage/experience.

William Steele, National Institute on Loss in Children 35

Make trauma survivors feel Make trauma survivors feel RICHRICH

RespectedInformedConnectedHopeful

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CHANGE OUR

DEFAULT EXPECTATIONS

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Three things we can do: Three things we can do:

Validate, normalize,

and educate

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Also…..Also…..

1. Remember, “What happened to you?”

2. Connect to local domestic violence resources

3. Acknowledge and provide services recognizing that safety of child and non-abusive parent are usually intertwined

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TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE

BEST PRACTICES AND PROTOCOLS FOR OHIO’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS

2013 EDITION

Funded by: The Ohio Department of Mental HealthSonia D. Ferencik, MSSA, LISW

Rachel Ramirez-Hammond, MA, MSW, LISW

Trauma-Informed Care: Best Trauma-Informed Care: Best Practices and Protocols for Practices and Protocols for Ohio’s Domestic Violence Ohio’s Domestic Violence ProgramsPrograms

Go to www.odvn.orgClick on “resource center” Go to “publications”Scroll down for link to PDF copy of trauma-informed care manual and webinar

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Trauma-Informed Care Best Trauma-Informed Care Best Practices and ProtocolsPractices and Protocols

IntroductionUnderstanding traumaResponding to traumaBest practices (16)Protocols (on 6 common DV program

services)Vicarious traumaAppendices

◦ Including trauma and you handout

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Resources for Resources for PresentationPresentationDeveloping Trauma-Informed

Practices and Environments: First Steps by Terri Pease

http://www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org/trainingta/webinars-seminars/

Dr. Bruce Perry and the Child Trauma Academy www.childtrauma.org

Homeless Resource Center Traumatic Stress Training Package

http://homeless.samhsa.gov/Resource/View.aspx?id=33070&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

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Check out this websiteCheck out this website

www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org

Under “Resources and Publications”

Conversation Series Tipsheet Series

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And this one too:And this one too:

Supporting critical thinking, learning and victim-defined advocacy

www.bcsdv.org, check out resources

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Thank you!!Thank you!!

Rachel Ramirez, MA, MSW, LISW-STraining Coordinator

rachelr@odvn.org

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