Transcript SAY Women
SAY Women Working With Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse Who Are SAY Women SAY Women are a small voluntary organisation offering a range of services for women survivors of child sexual abuse, rape, sexual assault and sexual exploitation aged between 16 and 25 years homeless or at risk of homelessness or living in accommodation that is unsafe or not suited to their needs Facts and Figures 17 times more likely to develop a drug or alcohol dependency 4 in 10 young women likely to experience homelessness 70% of women drug users report experiences of abuse before the age of 11 years one in four women have been raped or sexually assaulted Issues for Survivors Guilt, fear, Hopelessness, powerlessness Low self esteem Mental health issues Dependencies Self harm, eating disorders Symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder Symtoms of PTSD Hyper arousal Intrusive Thoughts Avoidance Lower functioning Routes Into Addiction Violence Care Leavers Vulnerability Prostitution Crime Homelessness Purpose of Drug Use To block out intrusive thoughts To numb To sleep To forget To function To comfort and soothe Early|Intervention Understand the behaviour Clear description of it Understand the routine What is the rationale behind it What are their likes and dislikes Values and culture Establish safety Strategies Focus on the strengths Exposure to options Exercise choice Create a sense of belonging Alter the environment Establish helpful routines Build a history of success Strategies Realistic expectations Clarify and ensure expectations are understood Promoting and reinforcing effective alternatives Promoting behaviours that are valued and rewarded by others Partnership Working Principles of Healing The core experience of psychological trauma are disempowerment and disconnection from others. Recovery, therfore is based upon the empowerment of the survivor and the creation of new connections. Judith Herman Trauma and Recovery P133