Sample of the OFC Program
Online Learning plus Group Study
The online program has been developed in collaboration with experienced educators and designers to ensure that the content is presented in an interactive and entertaining manner while still being easy to access and follow.
Designed to work on any size device (phone, tablet, laptop and desktop) the program table of contents is always accessible so that the student can see the modules and topics coming up. Your progress is tracked and highlighted as you go showing the number of topics completed and how many are left. There are easy multiple choice exercises at the end of each module to ensure that you have grasped the important concepts and several downloadable worksheets to keep with important tips and helpful practice exercises.
Sample from Module 7 - Impacts of Abuse
Impacts of Domestic Violence
When a person is abused, it can affect their health in many ways. Distressing, traumatic events during childhood can impact a person negatively throughout their adult life. Those who use abuse were often exposed to abuse themselves. In thinking about adversities, and understanding the effect these experiences can have on us and our partner, we can find more compassion towards ourselves and others. Our relationship can have healing character to it.
There is a purpose built, content rich video for each of the 15 Modules in the program.
This video is from Module 7 – Impacts of Abuse
Abuser/Victim Icebergs
Just like an iceberg, in a domestic violence situation, there is 10% of the emotions and behaviors that we can see and 90% that we don’t see.
When you think about a victim of abuse, what are some things you would see or notice about that person? What would stand out to you about how they appear, present themselves? What might be underneath the surface that they we can’t see (i.e. what they are feeling and thinking)?
When you think about a perpetrator of abuse, what are some things that you would see or notice about that person? What would stand out to you about how they appear, present themselves? What might be underneath the surface that we can’t see (i.e. what they are feeling and thinking)?
Click on the iceberg images for the full description…
What do these similarities mean? The person performing abusive behaviours are often victims themselves, it’s difficult to apply a label when there is so much overlapping. Abuse is complex.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)
Think of the Adverse Childhood Experience`s like the wrinkles in the paper, the things that had the lasting effects on that person. What do you think they may be?
Physical abuse; emotional abuse; sexual abuse; physical neglect; emotional neglect; living with a family member who is addicted to alcohol or drugs; living with a family member who is depressed or experiencing mental health problems; experiencing parental divorce or separation; having a family member who is incarcerated; witnessing a parent being abused.
Other ACE factors may include: racism; bullying; witnessing violence outside of the home; losing a parent to deportation; living in an unsafe neighbourhood; experience in the foster care system; being homeless; living in a warzone; involvement with the Criminal Justice System; and more.
In Alberta, approximately 1 in 3 people surveyed reported 1-2 ACEs and 1 in 5 people reported 3 or more ACEs.
The higher number of ACEs a person endured increases their likelihood of experiencing ongoing emotional and even physical issues into adulthood. However, supportive factors during childhood can reduce the harm from ACEs. And, understanding that ACEs were not our fault helps us find ways to overcome their negative effect by promoting self-compassion and self-respect
Step Inside the Circle
This powerful video from Fritzi Horstman explores the paradigm of how we incarcerate, isolate and dehumanize the most traumatized members of our society.
Unaddressed childhood trauma affects how a person responds to the world and, when triggered, can lead to choices that sometimes have devastating consequences. Yet, this can change…
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