By: Leslie Fischman
CH 5: Pri v. Pub & Obstacles to Committment Managing the Private vs. Public A victim advocate and professional, named Carol, said that one of the hardest things she had to learn to do is “managing the private and public; how family life affects work life.” She explains the importance of being present, and learning to “sit with it.” She says that by finding her balance she is better suited to emotionally to help her clients balance their emotions. Carol has found that what has helped her most to prevent getting burnt-out has been to diversify the things she does. She has diversified her career by simultaneously managing a private practice, teaching college level seminars at the university, doing administrative work, studying psychological theory, and she really stressed the importance of self-care to parallel the process. When I asked Carol what she felt was the most challenging aspect of her role she first stated that, “well there are three people here in the office and this question could be answered differently for all of us, but for me it’s: getting my mind set so that her paradigm is shifted so that she can appreciate the value of advocacy work and how its different than other clinician work she has done in the past.” She explains how she has “incorporated lots of ways of doing self-care” to minimize the chances of her experience burnt-out and feelings of being overwhelmed. Debra a licensed professional in the field, When asked – Have you ever felt burnt- out from work and how do you re-focus of get centered when feeling overwhelmed and stressed? – Debra replied, “Yes” and stressed “the importance of self care.” Some of the methods of self-care Debra practices are things like stretching after work or exercising outdoors. She describes coping with stress on the job as “burn out stuck in our bodies and finding the means to get it out of her body . . .exercising every morning . . . being intentional and making time for it.” Debra pointed out that . . . “this may not be true for everyone . . . people get triggered differently. When it’s overwhelming busy and I feel like I can’t give everybody the care they need. . .which is not the time to get anxiety . . . so instead I get re-centered by remembering to pace myself in the time between cases . . . to take a breath . . . and when I don’t have time to do this in between spaces in my work schedule is when its the most important time for me to practice self-care . . .during these times is when its most necessary for me to take care of myself . . . so that I don’t subject myself to the potential of getting burnt-out and or . . . harming myself. Which is why when I get overwhelmed its important for me to get out and do something.” Obstacles to Commitment: Personal Motivations & Reinforcing Positive Self-Concepts One factor that can be predictive of the length of service of volunteers on a crisis hotline is their individual motivations they had prior to entering service work. When an individuals motivations for volunteering are constructed by an expectation for personal gain and or guided by assumptions about what they think it will be like, they may have already set themselves up for failure. When their actual experiences differ from their preconceived notions of what therapy work will be like, minor triggers and the beginning stages of acquiring their role may pose significant challenges to their self concept which may lead them to drop out and/or easily become burnt-out. By raising awareness about VT, counselor’s and therapist will be less apprehensive about sharing those negative feelings about what they do with other group members. In order to prevent counselors from “los[ing] touch with their emotions . . . [when] they do not allow feelings which would conflict with others into awareness and will try to say what they anticipate would be most pleasing” (O’Leary 1997:140). Which explains why it would be most difficult for those struggling to perform their role to admit any feelings that would suggest any personal weaknesses they may have, and suggest that maybe this is not the right role for them in life. Which can be really hard for those people who want to help others to admit to themselves that they are not as good at helping others as they think they are, and that really the one they should be helping is themselves. Surprisingly the majority of the hotline counselors who I interviewed described feeling nervous before their first shifts. Not only did they feel uncertain and questioned their ability, but they were told that “it was normal for them to feel this way” and that through experience they would get better at it and eventually feel more comfortable. Although many of the counselors felt more competent after a few shifts, they recalled very vivid memories of their first calls and how it affected them emotionally. One counselor, Sophie expresses . . . “to hear it and be the only person they can talk to is kind of scary . . . you’re a stranger but you are trying to help them . . . thought it wouldn’t affect me as much as is does and has . . . we can’t fix them [and it’s] hard knowing we never can. After a call [you ask yourself] did I say or do the right thing . . .is this person better now? It’s hard to know afterward if you helped them.” Individuals who constantly question themselves, the value of the work they do, and are dependent on the need to have their feelings normalized by others and other positive reinforcements are most likely to question their own self-concepts when their feelings are not validated by their counterparts. In some respects, the goal of therapy for the client and the goal of being a therapist is to do something and engage with others in a way that reinforces a positive self-concept. However when our experiences and interactions with others yield negative feels about oneself, those feelings can cause one to question the purpose of their role and effect their level of commitment to something that doesn’t represent the most positive version of themselves they hoped they’d live up to within their role. When they allow other’s reactions to affect their view of themselves and their ability to help others in the way they expected they would. Part of a therapists personal growth comes from accepting the fact that they can never expect change to come from someone else, but that they themselves can learn to accept the fact that they are powerless over another’s feelings, regardless of their level of training or educational background, the counselor learns to accept the many aspects of being a hotline counselor that they have no control over. Challenges and Transformations Shainberg (1983) illustrates the key transformation that therapist’s undergo when working with clients in this way. She claims that when counselors learn to let go of their thoughts, and stop trying to fix, they become better listeners. By making a conscious effort to be aware of one’s thoughts and judgements, counselor’s and therapist can better prepare themselves to be active listeners in identifying the caller’s feelings and not what feelings within themselves the caller is triggering (Shainberg 1983:175) Part of the role of the hotline counselor is to help others make sense of their experiences, by allowing them to explore their own feelings in a way which will lead them to a better understanding of themselves. In this way counselors can best help others by letting the client make sense of their experiences themselves without telling them how or what they should feel. Trungpa (1983) argues that the basic role of the therapist “is to become full human beings and to inspire full human-beingness in other people” (in Awakening the Heart). Similarly counselors are best able to help others when they fully understand the importance of being open and come to understand the meaningfulness of the work they do for survivors of sexual assault. When counselor’s and therapist are unsuccessful at being true to themselves than “when working with others is a question of being genuine and projecting that genuiness to others” (Trungpa 1983). Trungpa argues that the role of the therapist is “not try to figure out people based on their past” but rather for them to develop a sense of “fearlessness” in the face of the unknown which is “necessary to work patiently with others” (Trungpa 1983). Normalizing the feelings of others requires the therapist in part to create and open space, let go of their fears of failure and the embarrassment they may feel by saying the wrong thing. Trungpa (1983) explains that in order “to cultivate basic healthiness in others” requires the helper “to cute [their] own impatience and learn” to be more accepting of others, regardless whether or not we may understand them. Trunpga (1983) alludes to the idea that whether or not therapist’s can personally identify with the experiences of client should not be a measure of how capable the therapist feels in helping that individual, being there and listening is just as effective. Trugpa (1983) specifically speaks to psychotherapist and their role as the helper to commit to their patients fully, in the sense that they pay attention and actively listen to their lives more so than any “ordinary medical work” position would require them to. She describes the relationship between the therapist and the client as more of a “long term commitment” that strengthens over time, with patience and the development of a certain trust that enables the client to freely express themselves and share their feelings.
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By: Leslie Fischman
2ND DRAFT AS OF 9/30/07 Chapter 3: [PART A] What do we know about VT? Who’s affected? While there are many studies focusing on the volunteers role and their experiences, there has been little focus on negative factors affecting volunteers’ level of commitment, and the long-term effects of repeated exposure to sexual assault victims and victims of trauma. Hellman & House’s (2006) findings indicate that volunteers “serving victims of sexual assault report a psychologically stressful environment and often experience vicarious reactions to the trauma of victims” (117). Recent studies have used the term “Vicarious Trauma . . . to describe counselors’ [emotional] reactions that are secondary to their exposure to clients’ [sharing their] experiences” (Trippany et al. 2004:31). Trippany et al. (2004) give a detailed description of symptoms of VT experienced by counselors and professionals who provide advocacy to sexual assault survivors, and how the experience of VT can lead to “profound changes in the core aspects of the therapist self” (31). However, there is very little if any sociological research that focuses on client-counselor relations and the counselor’s emotional reactions resulting from their interaction with sexual assault victims. More recently the term “vicarious trauma” has been used to address the secondary emotional reactions to trauma experienced by the counselor. Vicarious Trauma is more than just burnout or “psychological stress of working with difficult clients” (Figley1995 in Trippany et al 2004: 31), VT has been described “as a traumatic reaction to specific client-presented information . . . [that] occurs only among those who work specifically with trauma survivors,” (32) including rape crisis hotline counselors and professional therapists in the field. Brian E. Bride (2007) conducted a psychological researched based study on the “Prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress among Social Workers” assisting “survivors of childhood abuse, domestic violence, violent crime, disasters, and war and terrorism” (63). Figley (1999) in Bride (2007) defines Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) “as the natural, consequent behaviors and emotions resulting from knowledge about a traumatizing event experienced by a significant other. It is the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized or suffering person” (63). However Bride (2007) indicates that there are “no published studies that examine the prevalence of STS among social workers” (64). From a sociological perspective, counselor’s experiencing symptoms of STS can have a significant impact on their sense of self and their ability to help others, which Bride claims to be “an occupational hazard” (64) affecting “psychotherapist and mental health professionals, sexual assault counselors, and trauma therapist” (64) in the field. George S. Everly, Jr., Ph.D. and Jeffrey T. Mitchell, Ph.D. provide research on what they call “the debriefing controversy” and a shift in focus within crisis intervention research. Their study investigates the “effectiveness of crisis intervention” (211) and the “need to now focus upon ‘who’ does crisis intervention, to ‘whom’ and in ‘what specific situations’ (211) underlying “the foundation of the field of crisis intervention” (211). Reading this study made me curious to see how different levels of training, engagement, and educational backgrounds factored into one’s interpretation and perception of their experiences and themselves. Do paid professionals have a greater capacity to cope with feelings arising from interactions with clients who are sexual assault survivors, than 40 hour trained volunteers? And found that therapist in comparison to hotline counselors, overall seemed more prepared for their role and had more knowledge about what to expect from the clients and were more prepared for how to approach and/or help the client. The most difficult part of the hotline counselor’s role is the unexpected aspect of it, and what they have yet to learn through their academic, work, and life experiences. On a more positive note, how can reliving trauma and facing what we are most afraid of help empower ourselves, our emotional strength, and give us the courage to face the world and not feel threatened and/or powerless anymore? There are certain kinds of people drawn to this line of work, and in many ways helping others can help volunteers and victim advocates help themselves cope with life’s most trying and traumatic experiences. The purpose of training is not to teach counselor’s how to avoid the experience of pain altogether, but to be prepared for when it comes unexpectedly and have the skills and capacity to cope with feelings of discomfort when they arise. It is often through this process that counselor’s become better prepared to help others, by learning how to help themselves first, and by strengthening themselves emotionally for their role. CONFLUENCE AS SEEN IN VICARIOUS TRAUMA VICTIMS O’Leary in 1997 discussed the differences between confluence and empathy. She defined confluence as “the absence or disappearance of a sense of separateness where an emotional boundary is no longer seen to exist between two individuals,” which I believe is the point at which symptoms of vicarious traumatization have overcome an individuals sense of self and the emotional boundary between themselves and the client has become blurred. “Merging” is what O’Leary calls the “elimination of difference” which may similarly occur between counselor’s and the feelings the have resulting from interacting with the client (138). This merging of identity also occurs throughout the process of socializing individuals into becoming hotline counselor’s. In many ways organizations promote a sense of confluence among its members “as a demand for likeness (to another person/object) and an inability to tolerate difference (from that person/object). Confluent individuals agree not to disagree” (O’Leary1997:138). Counselor’s and therapist must be weary of how “work confluence” affects them and “the proportion of their time” dedicated to their role as well as the time spent outside of their counselor/therapist role in order to avoid becoming over consumed. Newcomers in proving their commitment to the organizational leaders are most susceptible to avoiding the symptoms of VT by “continu[ing] in this behavior even if they are overextended or suffer illness” (139). In some ways those who identify too closely with the survivors, either through their own personal experiences or years experience working on the line, may “see this confluence as unavoidable since their work is them and they are their work” (139). The pressure to maintain the confidentiality of their clients and their legal obligation to maintain that confidentiality puts an added strain on volunteers and therapists, by limiting their options for support and debriefing. This further enhances an individuals dependence on in-group social and emotional support. By raising awareness about VT, counselor’s and therapist will be less apprehensive about sharing those negative feelings about what they do with other group members. In order to prevent counselors from “los[ing] touch with their emotions . . . [when] they do not allow feelings which would conflict with others into awareness and will try to say what they anticipate would be most pleasing” (O’Leary 1997:140). Which explains why it would be most difficult for those struggling to perform their role to admit any feelings that would suggest any personal weaknesses they may have, and suggest that maybe this is not the right role for them in life. Which can be really hard for those people who want to help others to admit to themselves that they are not as good at helping others as they think they are, and that really the one they should be helping is themselves. O’Leary 1997 describes four characteristics of confluent individuals, which are . . . “a weak boundary between oneself and the world; absence of a sense of self involving denial of wishes and emotions; caretaking of others or objects and a sense of dependence on others or objects” (140). All of which O’Leary1997 argues explains why these individuals “may let other individuals hurt them repeatedly” (140). Many of the hotline counselors I interviewed expressed some form of “feel[ing] responsible for others to such an extent that is the other person is hurt, depressed or angry, they may feel guilty even if they had nothing to do with the onset of the problem and are unlikely to relax until the particular difficulty is resolved” (140). Which explains why its so difficult for counselor’s to separate themselves (emotionally) from the client after a call ends, because there is to some extent a lasting emotional impact on the counselor’s sense of self when they feel they could have or should have done more to help alleviate the client’s distress. Subsequently, O’Leary warns individuals of the potential for these symptoms to lead to the “experience of anxiety and confusion and may withdraw into personal and social isolation” as seen in counselor’s experiencing vicarious trauma and reason as to why they leave. 1ST DRAFT
Potential solutions Chapter 4 (Data Analysis): HOW FEELINGS, EMOTIONS, AND THOUGHTS LEAD TO . . . VICARIOUS TRAUMA, IDENTITY CHANGE AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE THERAPIST AND COUNSELOR’S SENSE OF SELF By: Leslie Fischman In this chapter, I will be discussing how feelings, emotions, and thoughts lead to vicarious trauma, identity change and the transformation of the therapist’s and counselor’s sense of self. Preventing Vicarious Trauma: Assessment of the Cognitive Therapeutic Approach Bennett-Goldman in “Mindfulness Therapy” describes the schemas we develop about ourselves and the degree to which they can be changed and challenged throughout our personal development. Schemas, described by Bennett-Goldman, “are basic beliefs about yourself, [and] conditioned habitual patterns of the mind” (2). Therapists in becoming aware of their own “malapadative schemas about oneself” (2) begin to recognize how negative thoughts can challenge or change the way in which they “interpret reality, [with thoughts] coloring [their] beliefs, emotions and reactions.” Therapist’s have the power to break the chain that leads to changes and potential negative effects to one’s schema’s by being aware of the “habitual patterns of [their] mind” and, as clients would in Bennett-Goldman’s study, therapist’s too can get better at catching these automatic thoughts and challeng[e] them in the moment they arise, [to] begin to break free of the hold of those thoughts” (5). Therapist can achieve these skills through training, their academic career, and early work experience where they learn and practice putting to use these skills. In addition, therapists and counselors, while attempting to identify and problem-solve their own issues, can learn how to avoid getting stuck in the negativity of thoughts that may arise from their interactions with others and personal life experiences, and “gain more emotional leverage” (Bennett-Goldman:5) over their feelings and reactions. In reading “Mindfulness Therapy” I noticed a parallel between the emotion management strategies identified by Hochschild 1983 and strategies therapist use within the cognitive therapeutic approach to helping others. If emotion management strategies can be used to help counselor’s and therapists to identify their feelings and their emotion, as well as the origins of their existence than cognitive therapy can help one identify “counterproductive thoughts” and know that “they are not obligated to believe [their] thoughts” (Bennett-Goldman:1). If we apply the cognitive therapeutic approach to “information-processing theory,” counselors can break the chain of processing their emotions in a way that would lead to either the reinforcement of negative schemas they hold or themselves or cause the development of negative schemas they hold of themselves. Bennett-Goldman argues that if “sensationàcognitionàemotionàIntent àAction” than how to put a stop to the development of negative schemas would be to heighten one’s awareness at “the feeling/emotion phase” of the “information processing cycle” (2). Vicarious Trauma is like a panic attack (*cite*), if you ignore the signals leading up to it, it hits you, but if your mindful of the cycle that leads to it you leave room for the potential to prevent the experience from ever arising. Being mindful and aware of our feelings, according to Bennett-Goldman, requires an assessment of two factors, one being cognitive and the other mental. Therapist are better able to help others if they can help themselves pinpoint those “destructive underlying assumptions,” describes by Bennett- Goldman, and react by “develop[ing] strategies that lead to a more balanced, realistic perspective” and activate a belief within themselves and the power their mind has over the emotions they feel. Bennett-Goldman advocates the idea that therapist who unleash their capacity to take “counterproductive, illogical thoughts, to untwist cognitive distortions, and to work with life events or their own thoughts” is one step toward develop a better understanding of themselves and their perception of others. rewrite—already in lit review***Similarly, van der Kolk (2001), in a study on the assessment and treatment of complex PTSD, argues that “people’s core sense of self, is, to a substantial degree, defined by their capacity to regulate internal states and by how well they can predict and regulate their responses to stress” (7). He believes that the longer we allow symptoms of the trauma to persist, the greater the likelihood of developing more serious psychological problems later on. Consequently, repeated exposure to victims of sexual assault and the sharing of their experiences may have a significant impact on the counselor’s emotional well being (Trippany et al. 2004). Their role, as hotline counselors and victim advocates, requires them to engage with clients on a deep and personal level and such “exposure can lead to a transformation within the psychological functioning of counselors” (31). Studies show that some experiences may have a lasting impact and lead to “disruptions in basic cognitive schemas about [a counselor’s] trust in oneself and others and beliefs regarding safety” (Wasco and Campbell 2002:121). Some of the changes in perceptions expressed by those I interviewed, described an increase in awareness about sexual assault resulting from their experiences working with their clients. When counselors were asked what they found to be the most challenging aspect of their role, one counselor, Tanya, replied . . . “learning about other peoples horrible experiences sometimes can give me a negative perspective on things . . .[questioning] how could someone do this? Treat someone like this? [you, as a hotline counselor] experience second hand horrible experiences.” Wasco and Campbell (2002) describe “the lasting impact of working closely with rape survivors” (120) and the “intrapsychic effects of indirect exposure to rape on caregivers” (120). Arguing that “a transformation . . .occurs within a therapist after bearing witness to clients’ . . . experiences” (120). Many of the emotions generated between counselors and their clients are “rooted in, the open engagement of empathy, or the connection, with the client” (Trippany et al. 2004:31). Zimering expresses that the greatest pitfalls to trauma work also have the potential to bring great rewards, if they (the therapist/counselor) responds constructively. Pearlman & Saakvitne in Zimering et al. describes the four domains of the prevention of secondary trauma and the identifying factors encompassing each. Addressing Cultural Changes in Relation to the Counselor’s Role Transformation As society evolves and the individuals within them change, so does the role of the therapist and hotline counselor in responding to victims of trauma. From a sociological perspective, changes occurring within society can have a tremendous effect on the individual sense of self, depending on the mechanisms of which they have to successful cope with these changes. As culture changes, people change and new problems associated with those changes arise. In lieu of the major catastrophes that have struck our nation in recent years, researchers have begun to question the effectiveness of the care provided by first respondents and those in the mental health care professions and the level of preparation in the event of an emergency. Thus new studies, such as the one’s conducted by . . . . . . . have questioned the necessary training that should be required among mental health care professionals and first respondents (i.e. hotline counselors) to deal with these newly arising social problems and how to help others address and cope with their present circumstances. Cultural Change and its Effects on Organizational Change Callahan 2002 discusses the “organizational culture [and how] emotion structuration can form a potential barrier to organizational change” (282). She refers to “Parsons’ Generla Theory of Action [and] provides a framework for linking emotions to organizational action” (282). Callahan 2002 applies this theory of action and its four “functions”: adaptation, goal attainment, integration, and latent maintenance, in order to better understand and “facilitat[e] our understanding of organizations as complex social systems” (284). Mainzer 1994 (in Callahan 2002) claims that these social systems that develop within organizations is primarly constructed by “affective connections among members of the system (284). In addition, Callahan 2002, refers to Hochschild 1979,1983 studies on emotion work and how “society drives and individual to cognitively shape and control feelings in order to fit within that society, in order to achieve goals within that society. Therefore, emotion management can be considered as one type of instrumental action” (284). Callahan 2002 argues that instead of seeing emotions as an “individual phenomenon” we should look at the potential for emotions “to be seen as an external or social phenomena that becomes embedded in the environment itself” (291). Seeing emotions as a social phenomena can help us to better understand the processes through which hotline counselors are socialized within organizations about how to feel, and recognize the organizations responsibility and influence over how individuals manage their emotions and the “larger script[s] and the larger structure in which that script was embedded” Weik 1979 (in Callahan 2002:292). Callahn 2002 argues that in order to recognize these patterns of emotional structuration we must address a “need for change at the larger organizational level” (292) in order to start making changes at the individual level. Cause and Effect: How Counselor may become desensitized as a way of coping with unwanted or disturbing feelings associated with the work they do Occurs when counselor’s forget how to feel objectively and differentiate between surface levels of acting and deep acting. They lose control of the emotions and ability to make sense of them, they become overwhelmed and the feelings of a loss of control over their emotions mirrors the disempowerment of the survivors they speak to who feel a lost sense of control themselves. When our “curious shades of will” have been tainted and our “capacity to control the way we feel” has been tarnished. By: Leslie Fischman
Introduction This research explores organizational structure and interpersonal relationships among a group of individuals volunteering and working for a rape crisis center. Focusing on the emotional growth hotline counselors experience while giving support to survivors of sexual assault. Various members within one local rape crisis center have been interviewed about their experiences and the process they go through becoming a hotline counselor. The purpose of this study is to raise awareness and illuminate the truth behind providing advocacy and the intensity of their experience of working with rape victims. By dissolving the myths surrounding victims of rape and the necessity for organizations such as S.A.V.A. (Sexual Assault Victim Advocates) to assist victims of crime with the informational and emotional support they need to cope with the trauma of being sexually assaulted. ways in which they learn and practice the skills they acquire through experience and through interacting with other volunteers and callers on the hotline. How counselors respond and react to these crisis situations is crucial to their emotional well-being and sense of balance. Utilizing the organization’s structured support groups and meetings are key to helping counselor’s cope with the after affects of repeated exposure to traumatized victims of sexual assault in crisis. Mandatory training for new counselors plays a pivotal role in their future success as a hotline counselor. Where counselors learn proper techniques for coping when exchanging emotions with survivors and yet still maintain an emotional balance. During training is where counselors become familiar with the many emotion management Leslie Fischman July 4, 2007 strategies needed to cope with mentally and emotionally stressful events and crisis situations. Boundary Maintenance is one of the greatest challenges a counselor faces, to find a healthy balance between developing an emotional closeness to the caller and at the same time maintain their ability to distance themselves emotionally. An inability to effectively maintain boundaries can lead to unhealthy consequences. Thus, affecting the counselor’s emotional well-being and the longevity of their commitment to the organization. Rape crisis counselors’ exposure to violence and stories of trauma and victimization on an ongoing basis, can leave the counselor feeling caught up and overwhelmed. Listening and feeling the pain of others is unavoidable at times and counselor’s may suffer emotionally in response to their interaction with callers on the hotline. Subsequently, counselors may endure symptoms of vicarious trauma and feel similarly to the ways survivor’s respond to their traumatizing experiences. Many try but are unable to commit to their role as a rape crisis hotline counselor for this very reason. Speaking to victim’s of sexual assault can trigger an array of unwanted feelings that some counselor’s may find difficult coping with. Therefore another focus of my research will be discovering the motivations behind those who stay and how they do it. Particularly what they learn about themselves in the process and how they come to identify themselves after integrating themselves within the organization. Illustrating how being apart of this kind of work requires more than a willingness and “heartfelt commitment” to help others cope with violence, and how to avoid the potential of “burnout” (manual, 16) on the job. S.A.V.A (Sexual Assault Victim Advocates) offers a series of techniques, which can be used to manage stress on the job: debriefing, natural support systems, boundaries, laughing often, mini-breaks, supervision, rest and relaxation, visualization, meditation, cognitive restructuring, nutrition and exercise, and time management. All of which play a vital role in maintaining emotional strength and balance, “to go the distance and fulfill the time-commitment to the rape crisis center” (manual, 19). As the manual states: “counselors can only be fully successful if they learn and integrate the lifelong practice of renewing inner sources.” As a volunteer and victim advocate myself, I felt compelled to develop a better understanding of what we do, how we do it, and what many of the counselors and I have learned about ourselves in the process. Specifically the challenges organization’s such as S.A.V.A face and their reliance and dependence on volunteers, government funds, and private donors, to sustain the services they provide to survivors of sexual assault. In particular the stress managed by the administration and directors of the program to keep it functioning and maintain its standards and ability to follow-up and follow-thru with callers, manage cases in accordance with laws and regulations, while at the same time upholding confidentiality agreements. I will discuss the framework behind S.A.S.A’s non-profit organization, specially how its administration manages the work cut out for them in their fight against violence. I will illustrate how the skills counselors learn through training are mirrored throughout their interaction amongst themselves and with those outside the organization. "Organizational Efforts need to be made to insight change that can provide more services and support to hotline counselors serving victims. Additionally, necessary adjustments need to be made, not only to the care provided to their clients, but also to the level of support given to their volunteers and co-workers. I have already begun to see changes within S.A.S.A as an organization, through[out] my study during a group meeting they introduced a couple trauma therapist who provide counseling to hotline counselors, which shows that changes have already started and this problem has been addressed by at least S.A.S.A.’s organizational leaders." (NEEDS REVIEW TO CHECK FOR TAMPERING]
-- This was my ONLY archived draft of this piece saved and NOW tampered with and deleted sometime TODAY, when it was uploaded to my computer, I know this piece was longer because it was an alternate conclusion I wrote, I wrote a couple different versions, and then excluded portions, that was what I went over with my LSAT tutor Lisa from Princeton Review, Fall 2007, I lived in Los Angeles, so I only touched base with her in time to grammar check my Conclusion. I wrote my paper ALL BY MYSELF, and we are required to have a committee to review our writing, and tell us what needs more work, help us through the development of our thesis, putting the research and the writing together, BY REQUIRING ASSIGNMENTS SUCH AS THESIS OUTLINES AND PROSPECTUS ETC. AND WE WRITE THE ABSTRACT AT THE END. |
AuthorLeslie A. Fischman Archives
March 2015
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