module 3 direct service issues

Module 3 Direct Service Issues

This curriculum is intended to be a tool to assist domestic violence service providers offering victim services (such as those outlined in California Penal Code §13823.15-13823.16) for the purpose of ensuring advocates working with survivors meet the requirements of a “Domestic Violence Counselor” pursuant to Evidence Code §1037.1(a)(1).

Objectives

• To understand the role of the DV Advocate.• To learn basic counseling skills and how to

apply them in such a way as to facilitate change.

• To understand the key points necessary in making a successful referral.

Module 3 • Direct Service Issues • Published 2012 • Slide 2

Crisis

The Chinese word for crisis wei ji combines two elements: Danger and Opportunity


Case Study

Assume that the information in this case study was gathered during the intake

process.

Read the vignette and answer the questions that follow.


Activity

“Web of Services”


Guiding Principles


What are Guiding Principles?

• Fundamental truths or methods of operation that link, direct and show the way.

• An anti-oppression approach with a social justice analysis


Guiding Principle

Client Centered


Guiding Principles

Safety


Guiding Principle

Empowerment


Guiding Principle

Advocacy


Guiding Principle

Hope


Advocacy


What is Advocacy?

• To do something for someone that they cannot do for themselves

• To speak on someone’s behalf when they cannot do it for themselves


Group Discussion

What are some examples of advocacy?


Advocacy

• Language Access• Acquire Income• Assist with Social

Service System• Refer to Legal

Assistance

• Secure Childcare• Criminal Justice

Advocacy• Obtain Adequate

Housing• Facilitate Healing


Role of the Domestic Violence Advocate

• Advocacy

• Crisis Counseling/Intervention

• Peer Counseling


Crisis Counseling/Intervention


What is a Crisis?

• A stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, for better or for worse, is determined; turning point.

• A condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive change.

• A dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person's life.

("crisis." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 14 Apr. 2007. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/crisis>.)


http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/crisis

Characteristics of Someone in Crisis

• Physical: – Shock – Numbness – Frozen – Fight, flight or freeze– Hyperventilation– Slow motion– Adrenaline rush – Heart rate increase


Characteristics of Someone in Crisis

• Emotional: – Shock– Disbelief, Denial– Terror– Confusion– Guilt– Relief– Grief– Loss of Trust


Crisis Intervention


Crisis Intervention

• Empathy vs. Sympathy• Short Term• Listen and Understand• Danger and Opportunity• Address Safety• Identify Options


Basic Crisis Intervention Skills

• Take a moment to create a clear space externally and internally

• Remain calm and centered• Regulate your own feelings and the

survivor’s anger and agitation.• Encourage survivor to make decisions for

her/his future.• Let the survivor decide her or his own

pace for change.(Source: Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence Training Manual)



• Be mindful about not imposing your personal values or feelings regarding the situation

• Minimize educational, social, and economic differences as much as possible.

• Allow the survivor to discuss negative feelings about an abusive partner, but do not reinforce general stereotypes about abusers



• Do not convey disappointment or rejection if a survivor elects to return to an abusive relationship.

• Explain all kinds of information thoroughly.


Peer Counseling


Group Discussion: Peer Counseling

What is it?

What does it look like?


Peer Counseling

• Active Listening• Reflective Listening• Open Questions• Feedback: Paraphrasing, Summarizing• Building Self-Esteem• Identifying and Prioritizing Needs• Reviewing Options/Establishing Realistic

Goals


Social Justice Context

• Recognition of social, economic, cultural, ethnic, racial, and familial influences on a client’s life and choices.

• Subordination is identified and sexism in society is explored in relation to domestic violence.


Active Listening

• Empathy• Non-Judgmental• Be Aware of Your Body Language• Non-Verbal Cues from Survivor


Reflective Listening

• Listen• Understand• Respond– Reflection– Restate or Paraphrase– Question– Summarize



• Questions– Clarifying– Open-Ended– Hypothetical– Consensus



• Clarifying Question– I’m not really clear; could you explain

that some more?–What does that mean to you?– Do you mean…..?



• Hypothetical– Suppose you did it that way… what

would happen?– If that didn’t work, what other ways

would you explore?–What is the worst thing that could

happen?



• Consensus– Does this seem to be the problem?–Which of these concerns is more

important right now?– Do we agree on what happens next?



• Summarize: come to a consensus about the issues at hand and next steps.


Principles of Reflective Listening

• Listen more, talk less• Respond to what is personal rather than to

what is impersonal.• Clarify and summarize/paraphrase.• Understand the feelings contained in what

the other says.• Develop the best possible sense of the

other’s frame of reference.• Respond with acceptance and empathy.


Open Questions

• Allows Client to Explore Emotions and Situation– Aware of Self– Take Control– Advocate Cares

• Closed vs. Open• Avoid “why”


Feedback: Paraphrase, Summarize

• Counselor/Advocate check, do you understand the client?

• Assures client you are listening• Validates survivor’s experience• Allows the survivor to hear their own

feelings expressed


Building Self Esteem

• Believe in the survivor’s ability to problem solve

• Remember the survivor’s situation and dynamics

• Reaffirm the survivor’s strengths• Ask the survivor to identify their own

strengths


Identify & Prioritize Needs

• Immediate Needs - Long-Term goals• Safety - Comfort• Personal - Family• Obtainable - Desirable


Review Options/Establish Realistic Goals

• Check in • Assess the survivor’s resources• Review other resources available• Be aware of your own need and your

pace


Incorporating an Empowerment Approach

• All work must be empowering

– Avoid– Embrace


Making a Referral

• Know your referral agencies

• What do you need to know?

• Warm vs. Cold Referral


Role Play


Documentation

• Good documentation is critical.

• Documentation can help the survivor in court.– Use survivor’s own words in quotes– Document extensively


Documentation

• Organization Policies


This project was supported by Grant Number G-1101CAFVPS from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the California Emergency Management

Agency (Cal EMA).

The opinions, findings, and conclusions in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of HHS nor Cal EMA.

Cal EMA reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license to reproduce,

publish, and use these materials and to authorize others to do so.

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