• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Department of Defense Safe Helpline Brainstorming to Support Healing Self-Paced Educational Module Logistic Notes: For the version of this module that is posted to the Safe Helpline web page, we will include the standard instructions to reroute learners to the learning management system (also called an LMS) to obtain the one hour of D-SAACP credit. For the version of this module that is hosted in the LMS, we will put the instructions for obtaining D-SAACP credits before the module. Specifically, we will provide information prior to beginning the module that it is available for credit and how to obtain the credit way before they begin. <Image description>: This is a sample image displaying where the instructions would be located prior to beginning the module in the LMS. Welcome Welcome. Thank you for joining us for the Brainstorming to Support Healing educational module. This module was developed by Safe Helpline and RAINN (the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) to support Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocates (SAPR VAs) who are working with survivors of sexual assault in the Department of Defense community. This online module will last approximately sixty minutes. Content will be presented through a combination of text, audio, and scenario questions to create an interactive, comprehensive presentation to be completed in a sequential manner. Navigation 1 To navigate through the module, you may click the Next button in the bottom right hand corner of your screen to advance when a slide ends. If at any point you need to revisit a lesson, click the Menu button in the top left hand corner of the screen and select the lesson from the drop-down menu. To enable closed captions, click the closed captions button in the bottom right hand corner. To replay the current slide, click the Replay button in the bottom right hand corner. To pause the lesson at any time, you can click the Pause button in the bottom left hand corner and click the Play button to resume. You may click the Resources button in the top right hand corner of your screen to download the audio text, along with any other resources that are a part of this module. To adjust your volume, click the Speaker icon in the bottom left hand corner of the screen. You may also step away at any time during this module and resume at another time. When you are ready to begin, please click the Next button. What is Safe Helpline? Safe Helpline is a confidential worldwide service that provides 24/7, anonymous, live, one-on-one crisis intervention, support, information, and resources to members of the Department of Defense community who have been affected by sexual assault. Safe Helpline serves as an additional avenue for survivors to access support and resources, especially for those who may not feel ready to access services in person. What is Safe Helpline? Safe Helpline launched in February 2011 in support of DoD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs (referred to as SAPR). It is operated by RAINN through a contract with the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, known as SAPRO. Since 2011, Safe Helpline has been a reliable and trusted resource for members of the DoD community and has supported SARCs and SAPR VAs in their work with survivors. Learning Objectives As a result of this self-paced educational module, SARCs and SAPR VAs will be able to: ● Use brainstorming as a tool to support healing from sexual assault ● Identify skills to utilize in brainstorming sessions, including building rapport, creating lists, identifying pros and cons, and role playing ● Implement brainstorming skills in conversation with survivors ● Work through common challenges to brainstorming 2 The module is eligible for one hour of D-SAACP credit. Brainstorming This module includes four lessons on brainstorming with survivors. Lesson one is an overview of brainstorming. Lesson two covers brainstorming skills. Lesson three explores brainstorming with survivors in practice. Finally, lesson four addresses how to work through challenges in brainstorming. Each lesson will build upon the information learned in the previous lesson. Please click next to continue. <Image description: Tree in the center of the page with cascading circles labeled for each lesson> Brainstorming Overview Before we explore ways to brainstorm, let’s begin by thinking about what is meant by the term brainstorming. Brainstorming is something that you already do in your everyday life. What will you have for dinner? What’s the best route to take to work or school? What gift will you get your friend for their birthday? Brainstorming is a method used to creatively identify multiple options and use information available to make an informed decision. In addition to brainstorming options to everyday decisions, brainstorming can also be used to plan for crisis, consider response options, and make decisions about next steps. Brainstorming Overview Brainstorming is a useful tool to help survivors identify their own strengths and options for next steps. As you brainstorm with survivors in your role, you will realize that they often already have the tools to address a problem. Your job is to provide information and resources, and support them in making their own decisions. For example, brainstorming may enable a survivor to consider resources already available in their community that may provide them with additional support, such as mental health resources or peer support resources. This technique places survivor experiences and ideas at the center of deciding what happens next. By prioritizing their rights, needs and wishes, brainstorming can help a survivor re-establish confidence and a sense of control in their life through highlighting existing strengths and skills. Brainstorming Overview 3 For many survivors, brainstorming can include reflecting on previous experiences when planning ahead in order to lessen negative reactions to challenging and triggering experiences. For instance, by exploring with survivors what examples of coping mechanisms they’ve used in the past that have been helpful, they may feel more prepared to deal with the stressful situations that may occur in the future. Brainstorming Overview There are many topics that can be a part of a brainstorming when working with survivors. These could include identifying existing supportive individuals and services, navigating challenging or harmful situations, and next steps to take in a healing journey. These steps will be different for each survivor. <Image description: silhouette of a human head with three thought bubbles. One includes the silhouette of three people, one includes a picture of fire, and one includes a picture of footsteps> For example, a survivor may want to identify individuals that they can include as part of a support network. Brainstorming Overview Brainstorming may include exploring resources with a survivor that are available for their emotional, mental, and physical health at the beginning of a crisis, during a crisis, and after a crisis. <Image description: Box that includes “Emotional”, “Mental”, and “Physical” stacked on top of each other with an arrow going to the right that reads “Beginning”, “During”, and “After a crisis”.> Brainstorming Overview Each survivor’s situation will be different. It is important to always explicitly ask for permission to begin brainstorming with a survivor, to put them in control of the process. Or they may be at a point in their healing where they are not interested in brainstorming at all. Brainstorming Overview If they indicate they would like to brainstorm, survivors may need help problem solving an immediate crisis, such as working through a flashback, or they may be looking for more long-term brainstorming that could include changing their route to work to avoid running into a ​ perpetrator 4 Brainstorming Overview The process of brainstorming will be different for every survivor you work with. Brainstorming does not have a one-size-fits-all approach. For this reason, it is important to allow the survivor to direct the conversation and brainstorming session. We will explore this more in the next lesson. You have just completed lesson 1. Please click the next button to go on to lesson 2. <Image description: Tree in the center of the page with cascading circles labeled for each lesson. Lesson 1 is marked as completed with a check mark.> Brainstorming Skills This is Lesson 2: Skills. As you prepare to brainstorm, there are key skills to focus on that will help guide the process. Successful brainstorming efforts should center around the survivor and their experience and knowledge. To center the survivor, acknowledge the survivor as the expert in their own life and safety. If the survivor chooses to brainstorm, remember to apply the principles of acceptance and non-judgement, respect, empathy, and hope. Brainstorming Skills To guide rapport building, there are four core skills to use. The first skill is normalizing. This can be done by stating that what the survivor is feeling is normal. The second skill is validating the survivor. Third, counter any self-blame by reminding them that what happened is not their fault. Lastly, it is important to impart hope as they move through their healing journey. Example # 1: Survivor: I should not have been drinking when this all happened… ​ Staff: (Thinking to themselves) Hmmm, I recognize this as self-blame and want to counteract it, ​ I think I’ll say, “It makes sense to wish things had gone differently and that this never happened. ​ That’s a normal reaction. I just want to remind you that you are not responsible for the actions of someone who hurt you, whether you were drinking or not.” Brainstorming Skills 5 In this example, the staffer starts by validating the survivor by saying, “It makes sense to wish things had gone differently and that this never happened.” The staffer then normalizes their reaction by saying,”That’s a normal reaction.” After this the staffer counters self-blame by saying,”you are not responsible for the actions of someone who hurt you, whether you were drinking or not” Example # 2: Survivor: I’ve been combat trained.

Load more

  24

Copy Link