Training Calendar

Thursday, March 19, 2026 3-4:30 Becoming an Oasis: Mindful, Calming, & De-Escalation Tools for Daily Practice

This workshop is designed to enhance the capacity of professionals in the field to create a supportive and inclusive environment for survivors, colleagues, and professional partners. The discussion will center on practical, trauma-informed strategies to ensure accessibility and foster a culture of dignity and respect. Participants will learn grounding and presence-based techniques that can be used with clients experiencing crisis or acute distress, as well as tools to help de-escalate heightened stress, anxiety, and fear responses in both clients and colleagues. The workshop will also explore small, actionable shifts that promote overall wellness and sustainability in the workplace. Through interactive discussions, real-life scenarios, and expert guidance, attendees will gain concrete, adaptable tools to strengthen their professional practice while supporting their own well-being.

Thursday, April 16, 2026 11-12:30 Sexual Assault: Media, Culture, & Victim Blaming

“Sexual Assault: Media, Culture, & Victim Blaming” examines the pervasive issue of sexual violence through the lens of societal narratives and cultural influences. This training highlights the complex dynamics of sexual violence, exploring how media and cultural portrayals often reinforce harmful stereotypes and shift blame from perpetrators to victims. Participants will gain insights into the ways these narratives contribute to underreporting, stigmatization, and barriers to justice. The session offers strategies to deconstruct victim-blaming rhetoric, promote survivor-centered advocacy, and foster cultural and systemic changes that uphold accountability and dignity for survivors.

Thursday, May 21, 2026 11-12:30 Beyond the Next Breath: Advanced Identification, Response, and Intervention in Strangulation Cases Involving Adults & Children

Strangulation is a leading indicator of lethal violence and long-term injury, yet it remains one of the most under-identified and misunderstood forms of abuse—particularly when it involves children and youth. This advanced training builds on foundational knowledge to deepen participants’ understanding of the complex medical, neurological, and psychological impacts of strangulation across the lifespan. Participants will examine advanced indicators of strangulation in adults, children, and adolescents, including delayed and non-visible symptoms, compounding trauma, and barriers to disclosure. The discussion will include emerging trends in youth and teen dating violence. Through case studies, interdisciplinary perspectives, and scenario-based learning, attendees will strengthen their ability to assess risk, respond effectively to disclosures, and coordinate trauma-informed, survivor-centered interventions. This workshop is designed for professionals who already have baseline knowledge of strangulation and are seeking to enhance their assessment, documentation, collaboration, and safety-planning practices in high-risk cases.

Thursday, June 18, 2026 11-12:30 Understanding Elder Abuse: Recognizing, Responding, and Supporting Vulnerable Adults

Elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation are often overlooked yet pervasive forms of interpersonal violence. This training will equip professionals with the knowledge to recognize the signs of elder abuse, understand its intersections with other forms of violence, and implement practical tools to support elder and vulnerable adult populations effectively. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to respond to these complex cases with sensitivity, collaboration, and trauma-informed approaches.

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 3-4:30 Creating Pathways to Safety: Serving LGBTQ+ Survivors of Interpersonal Violence

Effective advocacy for LGBTQ+ survivors requires more than inclusion—it requires intentional, informed, and affirming practice. This training focuses on concrete strategies for supporting LGBTQ+ victims and survivors of abuse in ways that honor identity, lived experience, and survivor-defined needs. Participants will learn how power and control can manifest in LGBTQ+ relationships, how stigma and past harm from systems can impact help-seeking, and how to avoid common pitfalls that unintentionally cause harm. The workshop will provide tools for inclusive communication, safety planning, and crisis response, as well as guidance on adapting policies and practices to better meet the needs of LGBTQ+ survivors.

Thursday, July 16, 2026 11-12:30 I Don’t Want to Talk About It’: Having Brave Conversations in the Workplace

We are often called upon to engage in challenging conversation with clients, staff, partners, and funders. These conversations stretch our skills in crisis response, negotiation, empathy, strategizing, and improvisation. They can make us feel anxious, stressed, resentful, and even burned out. This workshop will help reframe difficult confrontations into brave conversations, offering tools to support your work and ample time for conversation and practice.

Thursday, August 20, 2026 11-12:30 Empathy, Autonomy, and Change: An Introduction to Motivational Interviewing

Most commonly used to increase motivation toward behavioral change, motivational interviewing is an evidence-based approach designed to encourage clients to talk themselves into making beneficial changes in their lives. Motivation to change varies from person to person, from one situation to another, and over time. Some of us are unwilling, others are unable to change, and many are not fully ready. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a client-centered tool based on empathy and allows for client-guided change and growth. This workshop will explore what MI is, what it is not, and how to add MI skills and tools into your work with clients.

Thursday, September 17, 2026 11-12:30 The Post-Roe South: Reproductive Coercion, Abortion, and Domestic Violence

Pregnancy is one of the most dangerous times for individuals in abusive relationships, particularly when there are existing patterns of reproductive coercion. This workshop will provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of how reproductive control and coercion can trap individuals in abusive relationships, exacerbating the risks and challenges they face. Participants will be updated on the current state of abortion legislation in Tennessee and across the United States, with a focus on the recent changes following the reversal of Roe v. Wade. The workshop will place current legal statuses within the broader historical context of abortion in the U.S. Additionally, attendees will explore how present and future reproduction-focused legislation may impact victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, considering both immediate and long-term effects.

Thursday, October 15, 2026 11-12:30 Advanced Strategies for Sustaining Compassion in Victim Services

This advanced workshop delves deeper into the strategies for sustaining compassion and preventing burnout in victim services professionals. Participants will explore in-depth techniques for emotional resilience, learn about organizational practices that support compassion renewal, and engage in self-reflective exercises to identify personal strengths and areas for growth. This session aims to equip attendees with a robust toolkit for maintaining their compassion over the long term, ensuring they can continue to provide empathetic and effective support to clients.

Thursday, November 19, 2026 11-12:30 Grief, Trauma, and Survival: Supporting Survivors Through Complex Loss

Grief is a universal human experience, and no two people grieve in the same way. It cannot be rushed, fixed, or “talked away,” but there are meaningful, trauma-informed ways we can support those who are experiencing loss. This session explores best practices for showing up with compassion, creating emotional safety, and walking alongside clients through significant loss while honoring their pace, story, and resilience. The Grief M.E.N.T.O.R. Method is a trauma-informed, relationship-centered approach for supporting individuals through loss without trying to fix or rush their healing. Participants will learn how to meet people where they are, respond with empathy, normalize grief, and invite storytelling in ways that reduce isolation and increase safety.

Thursday, December 17, 2026 11-12:30 When Risk Overlaps: Suicide, Domestic Violence, and Survivor Safety

Suicide and domestic violence are often treated as separate issues, yet they frequently intersect—shaped by trauma, power, and systemic response. This training examines how domestic violence can elevate suicide risk for survivors and how institutional responses may either mitigate or intensify harm. Participants will explore survivor experiences, system-level challenges, and the importance of coordinated, trauma-informed responses. The workshop will highlight strategies for recognizing risk, responding ethically, and supporting survivors without reinforcing control or blame.