Woman’s Trust Counselling service for women affected by Domestic Violence Empowering women to empowering themselves Maya Gagni, Senior Counselling Coordinator

Contents Background & information on Woman’s Trust Some Data What is Domestic Violence for us Leaving is not an option Consequences of DV Current service provision and health inequalities The Person Centred Approach and Domestic Violence Outcomes What our clients say about us

Background Information Woman’s Trust was set up in 1995 in response to a lack of specialist Counselling service. Every year we receive around 1,000 referrals We offer one-to one counselling sessions with a specialist Counsellor Our services are London wide, specifically covering East and West London and Barking and Dagenham In order to meet client’s needs, our counsellors are based in a variety of boroughs. Referral is easy and anyone can do that

Some data Two women are killed every week due to domestic violence in the UK. Nationally DV accounts for 14% of violent incidents. “Women are the overwhelming majority of the most heavily abused group. Among people subject to four or more incident of domestic violence from the perpetrator of the worst incident (since age 16) 89 %were women” Every minute in the UK an incident of domestic abuse is reported to the police. It is estimated that one in four women will experience domestic violence at some time in her life. 64 % of women subject to domestic abuse did not think that what had happened to them was a crime. In % of cases where women are being abused, the children are also being directly abused themselves 1 in 5 people think it would be acceptable in certain circumstances for a man to hit or slap his female partner in response to her being dressed in sexy or revealing clothing in public.

Some more date At least 750,000 children a year witness domestic violence. Nearly three quarters of children on the 'at risk' register live in households where domestic violence occurs. Domestic violence and other abuse is the most common cause of depression and other mental health difficulties in women 18% of women affected are suicidal 64% have post traumatic stress disorder 19% of women experiencing domestic violence misuse or depend on alcohol (compared to 5-8% of women in general) Women being abused are more likely to use drugs other than alcohol 50-60% of patients using mental health services are affected by DV and over 20% will be currently abused.

Hackney “The Home Office developed a Ready Reckoner Tool13 to enable boroughs to estimate the level of need, taking into account known levels of underreporting. This tool tells us that in Hackney we can expect that: 5,245 women and girls aged have been the victim of domestic violence in the past year. 5,687 women and girls aged have been the victim of sexual abuse in the past year. 9,281 women and girls aged have been the victim of stalking in the past year.2 Hackney Domestic and Gender Violence Strategy

Sources Women’s Aid domestic-violence-statistics-2009 “Sane Responses: good practice guidelines for domestic violence and mental health services” Greater London Domestic Violence Project “Hard Knock Life” New Philanthropy Capital /“Tackling the Health & Mental Health Effects of Domestic & Sexual Violence and Abuse”, Department of Health/CSIP/NIMHE/Home Office “Domestic Violence Factsheet”, Government Equalities Office Domestic Violence Factsheet”, Government Equalities Office “Crime in England and Wales 2009/10” “A Domestic and Sexual Violence Strategy for Barking and Dagenham 2012 – 2015”

One Definition of Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence is essentially a pattern of behaviour which is characterised by the exercise of coercive control and the misuse of power by one person, usually a man, over another, usually a woman, within the context of an intimate relationship. It can be manifested in a variety of ways, including but not restricted to, physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse, and the imposition of social isolation and is most commonly a combination of them all. DV also occurs between adults in family relationships and also to men (and to women in same sex relationships WT 2008) The London Domestic Violence Strategy 2001(Greater London Authority and Association of London Government)

Forms of abuse Mental and psychological abuse Sexual abuse Financial/ economic abuse Physical abuse Elder abuse Electronic abuse Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Forced Marriage “Honour based violence” Stalking

Leaving is often not an option Leaving is often a proposition that friends and family offer when disclose of abuse is happening in someone’s live. But.. Leaving could often mean: Loss of home, work and income Loss of children Loss of identity and status in own community Loss of support network Loss of immigration status Death of client, her children or any other family member

Consequences of DV Emotional and psychological impacts Low self-esteem Loss of identity Mental health issues (mild to severe) Addiction(s) Suicide and suicide ideation Self-harm PTSD Chaos and confusion Inability to make decisions Hopeless and helpless On-going cycle of abuse

Current service provision Housing – Women’s Aid, EAVES, Refuge, etc. Practical Support for high risk clients - Advocacy (IDVA) and floating support worker The Law : Civil and Criminal Civil : child contact, injunctions and divorce Criminal: Police and CPS Healthcare GPs, A&E Mental healthcare - Counsellors / Psychotherapists, Psychiatrists, Mental health nurses, Third/Voluntary Sector: Woman’s Trust, Ashiana, Nawp, Naadv, etc.

Barriers to current Mental Health provision Abusive partner may use same GP Fear of reprisals or children may be taken away Counsellor may be male Cultural Prohibitions, No Recourse to Public funds, lack of information Counsellor unaware of affects of domestic violence Cost of private counselling and therapy and financial abuse Lack of funding to travel to counselling and/or childcare

Woman’s Trust Services Specialist domestic violence counselling Annual programme of self development workshops Referral service Training for professionals supporting women affected by domestic violence Weekly domestic violence support groups

Approach Person Centred Culture and Domestic Violence Confidentiality

How Person Centred Therapy works The Person Centred (PC) Counsellor holds a belief that there is an inherent potential for growth in all of us towards achieving our potential. The PC Counsellor will create an environment where a client is accepted and understood. The healing lies in creating a real and honest relationship between the Counsellor and the client. The client knows herself best and the Counsellor is not an expert. Because of this non-directive and equal relationship, this approach has been proved to work best with clients affected by Domestic Violence.

Outcomes Autonomy and life choices – better able to make the right choices, effect change in their lives & able to take charge of their own lives Increase in autonomy and personal control Economic independence More able to form stable relationships Improved ability to function and perform daily tasks Improved family functioning Improved mental and emotional health Improved physical and emotional safety Reduction in self harm and suicide Child safety

Hackney Services Free helpline on (9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) or the 24- hour national helpline on Domestic Violence Team (Freephone 9.30am to 5pm) or Info line Hackney Police Community Safety Unit Broken Rainbow Forum - National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Domestic Violence helpline NIA Project (Formerly known as Hackney Women's Aid) Advice Line: Emergency Line: Shelterline Emergency Housing Support Service - 24 hours Hackney and City Victim Support Childline - 24 hour help for children and young people Mens Advice Line

Client quote “Woman's Trust has been very important in my coming to terms with the assault(s). I now think differently about my sanity, blame, friends and family. It also supported me through an advocate which has helped me to tackle some practical issues which I may have avoided otherwise. I feel that I have been close to breakdown through this last year and Woman's Trust has played a huge part in helping me to keep things together and therefore to look after my children. I feel that we have a good future to look forward to.” “Woman's Trust provided a service to me that I greatly needed and could not get elsewhere. I think without their help I would have given up on life and sought desperate measures, I could not think straight and was finding it hard to function.”