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Sex and intimacy after sexual abuse, with Nina Burrowes on Sunday 26th June

Finding pleasure after pain. Sex and intimacy after sexual abuse

We’re thrilled to announce an event with psychologist and cartoonist Nina Burrowes, who will be in conversation with RSVP Chief Exec Lisa Thompson on Sunday 26th June 3pm-5pm at mac (Midlands Art Centre), Cannon Hill Park, B12 9QH.

How can sexual abuse as a child or adult impact the way you have sex and experience intimacy later in life? How can we ‘recover’ our sexual selves, as well as the rest of us? Join  Nina Burrows and Lisa Thompson for a conversation about sex and intimacy after sexual abuse. This event is open to anyone who has experienced any form of sexual violation, their partners, or professionals who work with sexual violence survivors in therapy.

Please note that this is not a therapy session, and participants will not be expected to share personal stories. The event will be a mutual educational session, with  opportunities for questions and discussion.

About Nina Burrowes

Dr Nina Burrowes is a psychologist who helps people understand the psychology of sexual violence. She works closely with police, prosecutors and the judiciary as a trainer and consultant both in the UK and overseas. She’s a regular contributor to media discussions on sexual abuse; the author of ‘The courage to be me’ and ‘Eyes open to sexual abuse: What every parent needs to know’, the creator of the online video series ‘Sexual abuse: The questions you’ve never had the chance to ask’, and the instigator of ‘Clear Lines Festival’ the UK’s first festival on sexual assault. You can find out more about Nina and her work at www.ninaburrowes.com or follow her on Twitter @NinaBurrowes

About Lisa Thompson

Lisa is a qualified social worker and psychotherapist with 23 years experience supporting survivors of rape and sexual violence. She is Chief Executive of RSVP, who provide compassionate services in Birmingham and Solihull for children, women and men who have experienced rape, sexual violence and abuse. Lisa also founded GINA, a community interest company that creates products, events and opportunities for sexual violence survivors, including a regular survivors’ running group.

Tickets are £15 + booking fee and available from www.eventbrite.co.uk

Survivors and self-harm

This guest blog is from Lesley Parker, a highly experienced professional who is delivering training at RSVP on Friday 10th June on Working with Self-harm. The training is open to counsellors, social workers and other professionals who come into contact with clients who self-harm. More info on the course and how to book a place is  here.

I’m Lesley Parker. I’ve been a counsellor and psychotherapist for over 20 years. During that time I have worked for an adult survivors service in Walsall and also specialised in working with rape victims at Victim Support. I spent a good few years setting up, developing and delivering a drug counselling service for young people and also developed myself as a trainer and supervisor. Over all of these years and services I have encountered many many people who have had issues with self-harm and one of the things I have learnt is there is no single form, purpose or outcome of self-harm. The behaviours, and the outcomes vary hugely from person to person and though there may be some common themes and patterns, in most situations it is best viewed from the perspective of the individual who is using the self-harm to make sense of it.
Having said that, during this time, with experience, I hope I have managed to gain an understanding that has enabled me both as a psychotherapist and supervisor to approach the subject in a meaningful and helpful way. It has become an issue for a growing number of people, from all walks of life, facing all manner of different issues. Its prevalence is still on the increase, therefore it has never been more important for us all to have a clearer sense of how to engage in meaningful and helpful conversations.
Lesley Parker CTA, MSc (TA Psych), UKCP Reg, Dip Supervision.

Working with Self-Harm

Spaces are available for a one-day training event on self-harm and trauma, on Friday 10th June in Birmingham city centre. This workshop is aimed at practitioners working with clients who self-harm. It is intended that by the end of the day practitioners will have an understanding of why people self- harm and how to approach the subject in a meaningful and useful manner. Practitioners will be encouraged to think about how they might assess the seriousness of the harm and offer alternatives for dealing with the issues their clients face.

Course outline

• Outline, Intros, expectations

• What is self-harm

• Functions of self-harm

• Understanding the behaviour

• Alternatives to self-harm

• Addressing other issues

• The Script System

• The Feelings Loop

• Feedback, closing remarks, endings.

Trainer: Lesley Parker MSc, CTA is a registered Psychotherapist and Supervisor with over 20 years’ experience of working with clients presenting with these issues amongst others. She currently works as a supervisor and also runs a small private practice offering training and supervision.

Tickets: £80 for voluntary organisations and individuals, £95 for statutory/private organisations. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.  Please note that we need 7 working days notice before the event for cancellation refunds.

For more information, and to book a place go to www.eventbrite.co.uk

Trauma-related Complex Dissociation – Origins & Consequences

Spaces are now available for a one day training event delivered by First Person Plural, the dissociative identity disorders association.The event will take place in Birmingham city centre on Thursday 26th May.

This event on trauma related dissociation is suitable for any professional working with vulnerable people. Complex dissociation will affect individuals’ needs, their relationship with supporters and how they respond to any supportive or treatment intervention. Thus, an access level of understanding will be beneficial to anyone working in primary health care (including GPs), mental health, education, supported living, domestic abuse, drug/alcohol services, rape & sexual violence / childhood abuse services, criminal justice or social and pastoral care in the statutory, voluntary or private sector.

Counsellors, psychotherapists and similar, including those who already have some training and experience of working with dissociative clients, have found this training day a useful addition to their learning. Well supported stable survivors who have a complex dissociative disorder, and their family and friends may find the course a useful psycho-educational resource.

Learning Objectives:

• To raise awareness of dissociation and its role in surviving abuse or trauma.
• To introduce the dissociation continuum and the spectrum of dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder (DID)
• To understand the reality of living with dissociative identity disorder
• To explore practical ways of supporting people who experience complex dissociation

Tickets: £75 for voluntary orgnanisations and individuals, £90 for statutory/private organisations. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.  Please note that we need 7 working days notice before the event for cancellation refunds.

For more information, and to book a place go to www.eventbrite.co.uk

Charity Comedy Night at The Victoria Feb 28th

For one night only, some of the finest national talent together in one room for your amusement and for the benefit of some very good causes.

Sunday 28th February

• Venue/Location: The Victoria, John Bright Street, Birmingham
• Doors: 19:30 – 22:30
• Tickets: Minimum entry fee £10 (£5 unwaged)

Bond Night Fundraiser!

Shaken Not Stirred is a glam night celebrating the best of the Bond films and theme songs.

Each table/booth is themed to a James Bond film and we will be treated to some amazing entertainment and pyrotechnics.

There will be a fun casino in the Green Room where you can win a great prize for making the most money.

Photographers will be on hand for glam or fun pictures.

Dress code is Black Tie/Evening Wear or a Bond film character. There are amazing prizes for the Best Dressed To Kill male and female.

The raffle and auction will also bag you some great prizes on the night.

Our aim is to raise much needed funds for RSVP (Rape & Sexual Violence Project) here in Birmingham and Solihull.

Tickets available HERE.

Awareness Week February 1st-7th 2016

Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence awareness week is coming up.

This has been established to give an opportunity for the general public, statutory and third sector organisations to participate in a discussion about sexual abuse and sexual violence. During the week people will raise awareness about sexual abuse and sexual violence and how to prevent it in the UK.

This is happening across the entire United Kingdom.

To get involved-

If you are an individual you can join the conversation on social media following the topic hashtag and/or make contact with your local organisation to get involved in promoting awareness.

Find out more information about the week by following this link to the Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness page.

Santa Cause

Thanks to those who supported- we raised £2000 for support services for sexual violence survivors.

A page in Bham Living magazine.

To see photos from the event click here to go to Birmingham Living.

Shatter the Silence: an insight into sexual abuse

RSVP are pleased to present, on Saturday 27th February 2016, this introductory insight into the impact of rape and sexual abuse, and how it may affect survivors and their support networks, with trainer and qualified psychotherapist Amina Begum.

The programme offers information and knowledge about the mental health effects of sexual violence, and how to support survivors to live confidently and independently. Amina will also be discussing and exploring the barriers and cultural issues that may prevent individuals from taking appropriate actions, and why many survivors remain silent.

This training programme has been produced for health, and mental health professionals, carers, therapists. The event is open to anyone who has an interest in this field, including those who may have contact with survivors.

Shatter the Silence: An Insight Into Rape & Sexual Abuse

Saturday 27th February, 10am-3pm.

Grosvenor House, 14 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham, B2 5RS

Booking info: £45 per person + booking fee, please book via www.eventbrite.co.uk

Rape is a human rights abuse

Did you know that today is Human Rights Day?

Many people are still unaware of the existence of the International Bill of Human Rights and many countries around the world still have much to do to build political institutions, judicial systems, and economies that allow ordinary people to live with dignity.

At RSVP, we challenge sexual violence victim-blaming myths. Rape and abuse is a violation of human rights.

We think it’s really important to recognise that there is still much work to be done both here and around the world to allow ordinary people to live their lives in freedom. Here in Birmingham in 2015 we’ve added 11 new counselling volunteers and 9 helpline volunteers to our team and we’re providing support for more than 2,000 people, but we know the need for our work is even greater than this.