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As an author of the Handbook, I see the content as important for all health care providers, and hope that all clinicians will see Sensitive Practice as routine/universal practice. Nevertheless, I also recognize that some practitioners will have difficulty with some of the content.
o For some survivors, the information in the Handbook may therefore hit close to home, or may trigger painful reactions.
Ø But, the Handbook describes traumatic experiences and can be difficult to read for a variety of different reasons
o For some, even thinking that children are abused is distress—therefore it is important to realize that this reaction is NOT restricted to survivor of child sexual abuse-any of us may react to this info because it speaks of difficult, traumatic events.
Ø Normalize and validate: having strong reactions does not mean there is anything wrong with you
Ø There is a section in the Handbook (page 30) that addresses issues of practitioner self-care both for survivors and non survivors alike
Ø If a registrant has experienced violence in the past and is having difficult with the contents of the handbook, seeking assistance may be helpful both for themselves and indirectly for their clients
o Most cities have Sexual Assault Centers
§ most maintain anonymous phone lines—not just for emergencies
§ most have some forms of counseling available
o There are other resources in many communities
§ Community mental health agencies that provide drop-in counseling sessions, group and individual counseling
§ Crisis telephone lines
o Talking to a supportive friend
o Written resources available (such as at the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence)
Ø Being a survivor of past abuse does not intrinsically mean that a registrant either will have difficulty with the contents of the Handbook or will need to see a counsellor or call a crisis line
Ø Considering working with individuals who have experienced violence (both reading the Handbook and reflecting on the contents) and actually working with individuals who have experienced violence can be emotionally difficult at times—no one ever knows exactly what to do in every situation
o Taking steps to care for oneself is one component of caring for one’s clients