The Ipswich Women’s Centre Against Domestic Violence is normally a feminist network based organisation committed to doing work towards the elimination of domestic and relatives violence through the entire community. The primary emphasis of IWCADV is to provide support to girls and kids survivors of domestic and family group violence. This consists of telephone data, referral and support providers, court support for girls, counselling services, group work and children’s work. Within my placement knowledge as a women’s counsellor at IWCADV I initially spent a few weeks developing my knowledge of the testmyprep issues involved with domestic violence and the systems that are in location to support women and kids who are survivors of domestic and family members violence.

My knowledge of the issues affecting women and children experiencing domestic and relatives violence includes an understanding of the emotional impacts of abuse (such as for example thoughts of grief and loss, anger, guilt, despair, trauma), the increased loss of personal and physical reliability, safety concerns, the economic costs, family rules and other legal issues, and ability and control imbalances in romantic relationships.

I have developed my knowledge of the problems affecting women and children experiencing domestic and family group violence in my own university studies and might work experience. The knowing that I received from my University research was enhanced during my student placement at the Ipswich Women’s Centre Against Domestic Violence. It was in this article that I produced my understanding of feminist perspectives on domestic and friends and family violence, including the specific, familial, legal and public issues. In this role I was able to develop my understanding of feminist informed practises and tactics. I assist this framework for practice as it can empower girls and help them find their tone of voice, encouraging women who’ve experienced the increased loss of control to make choices about their own life and take responsibility for their life choices and also to get back control. I worked from within a feminist framework to empower your client to find her tone of voice and also to discover her worth and make her own choices.

In my part as a student counsellor at IWCADV I offered crisis support and advocacy function to women who have experienced domestic and friends and family violence. Through the beginning counselling sessions, I found it was very difficult to generally follow the tale and set direction for the counselling. I got a strengths founded narrative methodology and usually after 2 -3 periods a clearer photo had produced of the client’s experience with domestic violence, and this continued to unfold throughout the counselling sessions how to write a reflection paper.

One of the most personally rewarding areas of my counselling experience was the chance to explore and encounter symbol and sand tray therapy. I spent a while studying Sandplay and Symbol Function – Emotional curing and personal expansion with children, adolescents and men and women by Mark Pearson and Helen Wilson to get ready for my personal experience with symbols and sand tray remedy within my professional supervision sessions. I then had the possibility to introduce one of my counselling clients to the sand tray. Whilst I did so have thoughts of uncertainty about my capability to facilitate the process, I did so feel safe enough with the setting up and with my consumer to create a secure place for self-discovery and self-awareness. She was very open to the process and both of us found this to be an enjoyable and meaningful knowledge. My client reported that was an extremely positive experience for her and allowed her to task some of her experience with domestic violence and that it was a breakthrough for her when it comes to learning to accept and benefit herself. I sensed that it was an honour to share this component of my client’s voyage.

With another client who was simply directed by the Division of Child Safety to wait counselling, setting the course for every session was more difficult. I did not believe that this woman was prepared to explore a number of the emotional issues related to the trauma that she acquired experienced because of this of long-term domestic violence. I was encouraged by her standard attendance and I assume that this was due to my increasing capability to develop rapport. I could develop great rapport with my clientele by being non-judgemental, using open up ended questions and appropriate body language. I think that my skill in developing rapport is usually reflected by the feedback and standard attendance to counselling sessions by my clients.

I did struggle with ending the sessions promptly and frequently discovered that sessions with some clientele were running over 1.5 hours very long. I spoke with a number of the other personnel at the service concerning this and they agreed that it could be difficult particularly when women are exploring extremely painful issues and that it was vital that you be sensitive but direct when closing a counselling program.

The group supervision instances that I was contained in at IWCADV were also very rewarding and inspiring times for me. The other employees at the support were all incredibly passionate women with a strong commitment to empowering women of all ages and changing network attitudes about violence towards women. During group supervision there is opportunity and support for workers to reflect on their own feelings of despair and helplessness, and there was encouragement to increase and share your knowledge and understanding of the issues associated with domestic and relatives violence. The group moments were also very satisfying team development occasions and there is a strong determination at the services to supporting one another. For example, I found that after long calls or after a counselling program, another worker would check-in with me to provide any support and to answer any questions that I had.