Addressing Trauma When Working with Individuals Mandated for Batterer Intervention

SESSION INFO

Tuesday, August 20, 2019
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Session Type: Workshop

Synergy Services will present the impact of providing trauma-informed services when working with domestic violence offenders. A vast amount of literature is available that outlines the benefit of addressing trauma from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Little work, however, has addressed how mandated batterer intervention treatment might be successfully augmented with a trauma-informed treatment approach. This workshop will summarize and describe the current literature on trauma-informed care and ACE. Also included will be an activity that invites participants to learn what an ACE is based on their own experiences and to discuss ACEs in a small group format. Data collected from current offenders’ reported ACEs will be reviewed. Presenters will also explore how such trauma can be effectively addressed within or alongside a treatment course for domestic violence offenders that both holds the offender accountable and addresses the underlying trauma of the offender.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Dr. Sara Katherine Brammer, PhD
Director of Family Violence Services, Synergy Services


Sara K. Brammer, Ph.D 400 E 6th Street, Parkville MO 64152 (816) 587-4100 Education: Doctorate in Counseling Psychology University of Missouri-Kansas City Dissertation: Domestic Violence Offenders’ Opinions of Intimate Partner Violence May 2006 Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance University of Missouri-Kansas City May 1999 Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Honors in Psychology, Minor in Human Development and Family Studies Clinical Experience: Jan 2011- Director of Domestic Violence Services present Synergy Services July 2010 - Program Manager II- Domestic Violence Clinical Services Dec 2011 Synergy Services April 2007- Lead Therapist/ Licensed Psychologist July 2010 Synergy Services Jan. 2006 - Domestic Violence Project Coordinator March 2005 Synergy Services August 2003- Doctoral Internship, University of Missouri-Kansas City August 2004 Recent Invited Presentations: Brammer, S.K., Dishman, T. & German, T. (2018, August). Emerge Presentation Brammer, S.K. & Dishman, T. (2017, August). The intersection of Domestic Violence and CA/N. United States Probation and Parole. O’Brien, G. & Brammer, S. K. (2017, June). The intersection of Domestic Violence and CA/N. Missouri Children’s Trauma Network. German, T. & Brammer, S. K. (2016, August). How can abuser programs and court work together. Recognizing Responsibility and Risk of Abusers in Court. Provided by EMERGE.


Tony Dishman, PhD
Program Manager Batterer Intervention, Synergy Services


Anthony D. Dishman D-Min., LPC 400 E. 6th Street, Parkville, Mo. 64152 (816) 587-4100 Education Doctorate in Biblical Counseling and Family Therapy Amridge University, Montgomery, Alabama Dissertation: Identification of Domestic Violence in Christian Family Systems: A Mixed Methods Investigation of the Ability of Local Ministers to Address Domestic Violence in the Pastoral Counseling Setting May 2018 Master of Divinity in Professional Counseling Amridge University, Montgomery, Alabama April, 2014 Master of Arts in Professional Counseling Amridge University, Montgomery, Alabama December, 2011 Bachelor of Science in Human Services Amridge University, Montgomery, Alabama December, 2007 Clinical Experience May 2016- Batterer’s Intervention Program Manager/ Therapist Present Synergy Services Inc. December 2017- Lead Trauma Therapist for Displaced Children Present Westport Counseling Associates October 2015- Therapist Batterer’s Intervention Program May 2016 Recent Invited Presentations Brammer, S.K., Dishman, T. & German, T. (2018, August). Emerge Presentation Brammer, S.K. & Dishman, T. (2017, August). The intersection of Domestic Violence and CA/N. United States Probation and Parole. Brammer, S.K., & Dishman, T. (2018, July). Intersection of Trauma and Domestic Violence. United Auto Workers of America.