New training: Cybertrauma 8th March 2017
Wednesday 8th March 2017
9.30am-4.30pm
Cybertrauma: A new paradigm for working with cyberspace issues in therapy and beyond.
What do you do if a child has Tinder on their smartphone?
What if a client asks to record you in session?
This training will look at the online world for children and young people, as well as adults, whether that be gaming consoles, PCs, tablets or smartphones. The training will looks at the issues, and pitfalls that people face online, how this affects the person and their ability to engage in interpersonal relationships, how to practically work with these issues.
What will be covered?
- What does cybertrauma mean?
- What happens when a person is traumatised online?
- Attatchment theory, use of devices, and the distinction from addiction
- Introduction to attachment and how this relates to devices and cyberspace
- Introduction to Polyvagal communication (how and why we communicate online the way we do)
- Ethics, the law and your practice.
Parts of the training include discussion based learning/breakout sessions.
E-safety leaflets will be provided and a handy guide to take home with you.
There will no doubt be more questions by the end of the session as cyberspace is ever evolving and the material is constantly updated to reflect this.
About the trainer: Catherine Knibbs is a child sex abuse therapist and founder/CEO of Peer Support Yorkshire CIC, a service for child trauma, abuse and attachment. Catherine conducts research into the affects of cyberspace on young people’s interpersonal connections. Before training as a therapist, Catherine worked in gaming and computers.
Location: Priory Rooms, Quaker Meeting House, 40 Bull St, Birmingham B4 6AF
Cost: £90 (voluntary orgs / individuals) £105 (Statutory / private orgs) + booking fee
About the trainer: Catherine Knibbs is a child sex abuse therapist and founder/CEO of Peer Support Yorkshire CIC, a service for child trauma, abuse and attachment. Catherine conducts research into the affects of cyberspace on young people’s interpersonal connections. Before training as a therapist, Catherine worked in gaming and computers.
Working with people who experience trauma related dissociation
On Thursday 16th February, we will be welcoming back First Person Plural to continue their excellent training on trauma related dissociation.
Using a mix of experiential, group discussion, audio visual media and didactic training tools the day aims to further improve understanding of the complexity and contradictions in how people who experience dissociation may present. It supports and develops participants existing professional knowledge and training through providing complex dissociation specific information and practical suggestions. It encourages development of participants’ practice when supporting a person who dissociates who is in crisis.
The training is delivered by Kathryn Livingstone and Melanie Goodwin from First Person Plural, who are experts by experience. They deliver a professional training day that provides a unique perspective with generous sharing of lived experience to enhance theoretical learning.
Attendance on the introductory day is the ideal prerequisite for entry onto this training. However, if you have not attended the first part of the training, we can share resources with you to view in advance: First Person Plural’s training film “A Logical Way of Being” and the chapter on Stabilisation from “No Two Paths The Same”. Please contact sarah@rsvporg.co.uk to request these resources, after booking.
Thursday 16th February
Priory Rooms, 40 Bull Street, Birmingham, B4 6AF
Voluntary organisations/individuals – £75 + booking fee
Statutory/private organisations – £90 + booking fee
Book via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk
Santa Cause 3
Come along to a great charity evening where everyone wI’ll have a fun night whilst supporting our specialist charity.
Every year we support thousands of survivors of rape, sexual violence and sexual abuse whether they are men, women, children, asylum seekers or trafficked people. The demand within Birmingham and the West Midlands is growing at an unacceptable level. We need your help and support to raise our profile and to also help engage supporters.
Santa Cause 3 – The Return of Mrs Cause, will take place on Wednesday 23rd November 2016. The plan is to meet at The Bank Restaurant & Bar in Brindley Place, Birmingham for a welcome drink of wine, beer or bubbly and photo shoot starting at 6pm. Everyone will then be given a special seasonal outfit before we leave for our second venue. The first 100 people to book will be given a free seasonal outfit sponsored by our good friends and supporters Orton Estates Ltd…… So book your tickets here !
Then at approximately 7.30pm we will move onto Zizzis where you will receive another free welcome drink of bubbly and food.
We then will move to our final destination of the night Nuvo, at approximately 9pm where we spend the remainder of the evening where there will be a DJ, a raffle with some great prizes and treats for a Christmas party!
Unlike our Santa Cause events on previous years we are keeping this event to three venues to allow for a more leisurely approach.
Book your tickets on the link above but if you do require any additional information please contact us on:
info@rsvporg.co.uk
We look forward to seeing you there!
BCLC Autumn Quiz Fundraiser!
On Tuesday 18th October, Birmingham Chinatown Lions Club will be hosting their Autumn Quiz in aid of RSVP! The event will take place from 7:30pm at Edmunds Brew House (B3 2ES), and costs just £5 per person to enter – which includes canapes on entry.
If you’re a keen quizzer, or just want to support us in the work that we continue to do, book in a team of up to six people with Lion Stewart, who can be contacted on 07973833519 or stewart@chamberlainssurveyors.co.uk. Thank you in advance for your support, we can’t wait to see you there!
(Click on the image below to take you to our event page for the quiz)
![JPEG_BCLC Autumn Quiz 2016[54550]](https://rsvporg.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/JPEG_BCLC-Autumn-Quiz-201654550-213x300.jpg)
JamFest 2016 Launched!
We’ve had an exciting day in the office today, finalising our partnership with the annual music festival, JamFest, hosted by Birmingham’s premier Jazz and Soul music venue – The Jam House!
Tuesday 11th October will see a host of exciting acts descend on The Jam House, bringing an eclectic mix of musical delights right to our doorstep. All proceeds from the night will go to RSVP to keep supporting, inspiring, and encouraging survivors of rape and sexual abuse to be bold, hopeful, and to have self-belief.
We think this could be the start of something big, so if you’re interested in music and want to change some lives then come on down, we’d love to see you!
Why not like and follow our JamFest Facebook page and follow us on Twitter whilst you’re there? We’ll be releasing more details about the event and about the artists who will be supporting us in the run up to the event, so keep your eyes peeled on our social media! (Click on the icons below to take you to our pages, and to buy tickets).
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.
To many people, Kate Smurthwaite is best known for her outspoken TV appearances on Question Time, The Big Questions and the news channels (though she is apparently too controversial for Goldsmiths College). But she is still first and foremost a stand-up, and her latest show is “The Wrong Sort Of Feminist”, about the Goldsmiths saga, Ex-Muslims, choice, feminism, the treatment of asylum seekers, the NHS, Couples Come Dine With Me and edible pants.
‘Hilarious … a powerhouse of observational wit’ (Spectator). ‘An important and inclusive narrative on our society’ (ScotsGay). ‘The verve with which she articulates her views on our land is monumental’ (BroadwayBaby.com). ‘Comedy that cuts through the crap’ (ThreeWeeks). ‘You come across as not only being hypocritical, but incompetent and mendacious.’ (Frankie Boyle)
Iszi Lawrence gigs across the UK as well as internationally and has headlined nights in Oslo, Prague, Dublin and Brussels. She is a seasoned performer, having appeared in critically acclaimed shows at the Edinburgh Fringe since she was 17. Iszi is well-known for her podcasting exploits, namely The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe, the Z-List Dead List and Sundays Supplement.
“She’s as adept with an anecdote as she is with a one-liner, and her trips down comedy asides are on-the-spot funny.” (The Herald) “She’s good. Really good.” (Oxford Mail)
Andy White is a Brummie bursting with creative energy who combines silly voices and a mad afro to devastating comic effect. Andy has appeared on the BBC New Comedy Awards, Brand Spanking New on BBC Radio 7 and the Weakest Link comedy special. (He won!) His appearance on the quiz featured in his five-star Edinburgh show ‘It Started With A Quiz’. This followed on from his well-received one-man show “Young, Gifted and Beige”.
“Had me exercising my pelvic floor muscles to avoid an accident Karen Slater, BBC Tees “Undeniably entertaining” Chortle.co.uk “Oozes talent” What’s On Magazine “The laughs turned to applause many times for Andy” Suzanne Worthington, BBC Cumbria.
Sunday 28th February
- Venue/Location: The Victoria, John Bright Street, Birmingham
- Doors: 19:30 – 22:30
- Tickets: Minimum entry fee £10 (£5 unwaged)