The VOICE Programme is a twelve-week part-knowledge-based/part-therapeutic programme for adult victims of intimate coercive experience. The main aims of the programme are to: address and identify the various behaviours of a coercive and controlling partner both in situ and post-separation; the process of dismantling that a victim goes through; the barriers to seeking help; offer relatable psycho-education on trauma and ‘normal’ stress responses; enable victims and survivors to learn more about the impact of traumatic experiences; build their personal capacity for self-regulation and their commitment to self-care. The learning can be applied to all adults who find themselves victim/vulnerable to the same experiences whether they identify as heterosexual or LGBTQ+.
The programme is committed to weaving in the themes of intersectionality and the additional barriers this presents to victims, theoretic models which help victims to identify where they are at in the cycle or stage of domestic abuse both pre and post-separation and the use of digital technology to further compound abusive dynamics.
The programme is interactive and draws on a variety of different learning styles using discussion, self-reflective exercises, visual media and active participation to develop learning, awareness and understanding of this complex, confusing and traumatic issue.
Who should attend: This three-day facilitator training is open to multi-agency practitioners, therapists, mentors, support workers and group facilitators based in domestic abuse agencies, therapeutic services, CYP and family support services, intensive support services, probation, prison service, police and SARCs.
Over this three-day interactive training facilitators will learn how to run this programme in groups as well as apply the learning 1:1, exploring ways to address the difficult and sensitive issue of coercive control, domestic violence and the impact of trauma using discussion, group work, experiential exercises and self-reflection.