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	Workshops Planned for Abuse Survivors By Terri Saunders SQLFusion [Canada] April 3, 2007 http://www.theinquiry.ca/Workshops_030407.hide.php The community at large must learn to care for victims of sexual abuse, officials with the Cornwall Public Inquiry say, and a series of workshops is being planned to achieve that goal. As part of a number of research projects approved by the commission, the workshops will focus on educating professionals and members of the public on how to deal with adult survivors of abuse and assist them on the path to healing. It is often years after the abuse occurs when victims finally come forward to talk about their experiences, officials say, and people need education as to how to receive this information. "For people who may receive disclosure of historical sexual abuse, receiving disclosure requires training and emotional support," said Comm. Normand Glaude. "Unless someone is working in a very specific type of job where training already occurs, disclosure may take people unaware. "As a result, they may not know what to do and not respond in a constructive way - or keep the right records - because they do not have the tools and information." Glaude said much evidence has been received by the inquiry which suggests it's difficult for men coming forward to disclose abuse and just as hard for those hearing about it. "We have heard in this inquiry about some specialized challenges," said Glaude. "(They are related to) the particular needs of men who were abused as children, the challenges of providing various types of counselling or health services in response to childhood trauma, dealing with anger as a response to abuse or trauma by men, and last, but certainly not least, the need for those practising in this difficult field to learn self-care to avoid vicarious trauma." Glaude said providing the tools which will help specialists and professionals protect themselves is a crucial element in the process. "Vicarious trauma can occur when those working with those having a history of abuse begin to take on the emotional burden of those abused," said Glaude. "This can impair their own lives and also make them less effective in their important work." Training will focus on things such as the intake, receiving and tracking of the history of adults' disclosure of child abuse, a public forum focusing on understanding the investigation of child sexual abuse, male sexual victimization, the needs of those suffering from trauma, working with abusive or violent men and group therapy for trauma victims for mental health practitioners. "Geared for parents and members of the community generally, we will have a public education opportunity, 'What you need to know about investigation of child sexual abuse,'" said Glaude. "This will allow members of the public to understand what happens in investigations today, what you might expect if someone you know is affected. "Knowing what to expect is a source of strength in a difficult situation, both for children and their family members." There will also be a research project conducted into the legal and ethical implications of apologies. Several times throughout the course of the inquiry, witnesses have spoken about their desire for an apology from an abuser or from an official representing a public institution which the witness suggested failed him or her during the course of his or her life. Glaude agreed apologies are not always forthcoming, but he suggested there may be good reason on the part of an alleged perpetrator or institution for the choice not to offer one to a complainant. "We know it is a positive human impulse to want to both give and receive a sincere and heartfelt apology for a deep wrong done," said Glaude. "But sometimes we are told that there are legal or other impediments. We want to understand what is a real barrier and what is not a real barrier." There will also be research projects focused on the potential for male victims of childhood sexual abuse to go on to be abusers themselves. So far at the inquiry, at least one witness has spoken about the fact he went on to abuse other children as he got older, behaviour he directly attributes to the abuse he suffered as a child. Glaude said he expects this portion of research to be some of the most difficult encountered during phase two. "We know that most victims of abuse do not abuse others," he said. "Indeed, it is a myth that this is prevalent and this is often hurtful to survivors. "But it does happen and we may need better knowledge to deal with people who do abuse, to prevent children from being victimized." All sessions will be posted on the inquiry's website at www.cornwallinquiry.ca and will be provided free of charge, giving priority to Cornwall-area residents and professionals.
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