Welcome!
Healing from Justice: Supporting Adult Survivors of Sexual Assault is a comprehensive sexual assault training program that provides professional development for counsellors, counselling students, support workers, and advocates. It equips clinicians with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to effectively support adult sexual assault survivors in their healing journeys and interactions with justice systems.
The program offers two formats: a fully self-guided option, and an option that includes live group supervision for counsellors, to deepen clinical integration and support.
Why are there two delivery options?
When i first created the course, it was with the aim to offer a self-paced curriculum. However, since offering group supervision as well, i've come to appreciate the power and even magic that happens when we come together to explore a difficult and sometimes isolating subject. The unity of the group helps participants exchange ideas, embody skills, and enhance the network of their professional community. As an added benefit, it provides six hours towards supervision requirements, for students and working professionals alike.
What You'll Learn
This course will teach you how to:
- Recognize and challenge rape culture and rape myths in yourself, clients, and society
- Apply an intersectional lens to how identity shapes survivors' experiences post-assault
- Practice cultural humility and recognize how your own identity influences your work
- Provide trauma-informed support when survivors are making decisions about reporting
- Understand Canadian sexual assault law and how to prepare survivors for court processes
- Explore alternative justice options like restorative and transformative justice approaches
- Gain therapeutic skills such as nervous system regulation and pleasure-centred healing
- Integrate embodied advocacy and activism to shift the needle on sexual assault justice
Course Structure
Both formats consist of 6 modules that cover the following topics:
Total Course Time: Approximately 10-18 hours (10-12 hours for the course materials alone, including PDFs, videos, reflection activities, and quizzes; 6 more hours for the sexual assault counselling supervision)
Course Format and Materials
This course includes:
- Video lectures from the instructor
- Downloadable PDF booklets with original content
- Self-assessment quizzes to test knowledge after each module
- Reflection activities throughout for personal growth and self-awareness
- Practical tools and handouts for gaining competencies to share with clients
Trauma-Informed Learning
This can be challenging material, and the course is designed to offer:
- Transparency: Clarity about what's coming and why it matters
- Collaboration: Chances to reflect and record personal thoughts
- Empowerment: Building skills and confidence to create change
- Choice + Control: You decide pacing and when to take breaks
- Sensitivity: Content warnings and self-care emphasis throughout
About the Instructor
deirdre mclaughlin is a clinical counsellor, approved clinical supervisor, and holds a doctorate in clinical sexology. they are also trained in relational somatic therapy and somatic sexology. that stuff aside, you'll usually find deirdre with family and friends, or playing in the mountains with ringo the dog, aka "sweet boy who brings me joy."
