Questions for the Moderators/Professionals Working in this field

Questions for the Moderators/Professionals Working in this field
F

Future Counselor

New Registrant
Hi,

First, please forgive me if I've posted this on the wrong board. I wasn't sure where to post and I did not want to intrude on the men-only boards.

My name is Lori, and I am a twenty-three year old psychology student who is interested in counseling survivors of rape and sexual assault. While I would like to help anyone in need, regardless of gender, I am particularly passionate about helping male survivors.

At this point, my ultimate goal is to work in a rape or crisis intervention center as a therapist, and eventually get my own practice. My questions are primarily directed to the professionals out there who visit this site.

How do you go about specializing in this field?

Are the majority of you family therapists who just happen to work with male survivors, or were there things you did that helped you establish yourselves as specialists in rape and sexual assault recovery?

Are there special certifications available for people who want to specialize in treating those who have experienced sexual trauma?

As I said, I see myself working as a therapist at a rape or crisis intervention center, but I don't see much attention being given to male survivors who need emotional support immediately after an assault or throughout recovery in that sort of public arena.

Will being female make it significantly more difficult for me to find opportunities to work with male survivors?


Thanks for reading,

~Lori
 
Lori in addition to the therapists that visit this site you may wish to make a contact with this group as well:

https://www.themensproject.ca/

I dont know if they visit this site but they are a FABULOUS team that specializes in mens issues --- they address sexual abuse, anger, addictions, etc. They also have a support group for partners of male survivors of sexual abuse.

The staff there appears to have male and female members although according to the on-line list there are a few more men than women. I *am* aware that the group therapy sessions on "men and healing" which is specifically for survivors of male sexual abuse has a male AND a female leader. I think the sessions for men and anger also have a male and a female leader, as do the sessions for partners.

PAS
 
Hey !
Apart from being a survivor and a pro survivor , I am also training to be an art therapist. I want to specialize in that field too and especially in helping male survivor so I would be very interested to exchange views on that.
I am currently looking for an internship in spring in Canada (Quebec). I knew only one institution called CRIPHASE which only welcome male survivors. They have added a group for partners. Unfortunately because of their usual lack of funds they can't garanty a date for the next sessions so I am left without internship.
I am still looking into other possibilities.
In France, there is a new master degree for the field of sexual assaults/ incest, they call that field "victimologie".
I have talked to a lot of male survivors and I am kind of comfortable talking about sex related issues, I am very open and completely non judgemental so I don't feel I would have a problem being accepted. I guess it is a matter of trust. I honestly think that most of the men I talked too really appreciated sharing their problems with a woman because it helped them to dedramatize the problem, also restoring the hope that they would meet a companion who would be like that. In a way they think: if one woman is like that, sure there must be another one like that for me !
Anyway I will tell you more about my field (art therapy through theatre and dance)
I think there are a lot we can do out there for you guys :)
Speak later
Caro
 
Lori
I think that many of the people working with survivors do so because they are deeply affected by the whole scenario, either as a survivor or being close to one.
But obviously many people come to this area because they see a need they can possibly fulfill.

I'm training to be a counsellor, and I'm a survivor. So my own experience helps me for a start, but the experience I get by helping here at MS and at Axis, a charity for survivors here in the UK, is worth any amount of lectures, lessons and theory.

Follow some of the topics here, go back - there's a vast wealth of experience already written down on these forums, read it and learn it straight from the guys who know best.

Dave
 
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