Course Description

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and femicides are prevalent in societies marked by patriarchy and misogyny. While women generally face a higher chance of victimization than men, one’s racial identity and social context can impact risks of victimization. Due to the COVID pandemic there have been increased rates of IPV due to chronic stressors and the restriction of movement. Even in isolation, survivors still suffer from the echoes of past abuse. Clinical observations have revealed, in some cases, the reemergence of PTSD symptoms during the pandemic for survivors of past abuse. This necessitates a discussion of EMDR therapy and methods of assisting survivors of gendered violence. This presentation—by David Archer, MSW, MFT—will provide a review of attachment styles, betrayal trauma, and an exploration of how the adaptive information processing model can assist in reprocessing the trauma that survivors carry with them. Case examples will explore the AIP model, IPV, and anti-racist psychotherapy perspectives.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to describe how attachment styles interact with relational violence.
2. Participants will be able to list three EMDR therapy recommendations when working online during the pandemic.
3. Participants will be able to describe how cultural betrayal trauma theory and institutional betrayal trauma impact survivors of gendered violence.

Presenter(s)

David Archer, MSW, MFT

David Archer, MSW, MFT, is an anti-racist psychotherapist from Montreal, Canada (Tiohtià:ke). He is an Approved EMDR consultant, works full time in private practice, and provides consulting services for organizations and other therapists. In addition to being trained as a clinical social worker, he is also a registered couple and family therapist. His philosophies are informed by mindfulness, intersectional feminism, and critical race theory. Mr. Archer is an ally of LGBTQ, Black, Indigenous, and oppressed people of color around the world. He is also the recent author of a book called Anti-Racist Psychotherapy: Confronting Systemic Racism and Healing Racial Trauma.