1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, etc.2

LESSON TWO- POWER AND CONTROL

TRIGGER WARNING

The youth are given a trigger warning before we begin, some of the videos can be very powerful and bring up numerous emotions.  The students are told if they need to step out or put their head down that they can.  The counselors are available to provide emotional support. 

• The students are asked to use their Power and Control and Equality wheels while watching the videos below.  We have discussion after each video on the various types of abusive or healthy actions depicted in the videos.

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• The discussion focuses on physical, mental, and emotional damage to the individuals being abused.  Many students questioned why the victim did not just leave.  The cycle of abuse is explained, and how it can be generational.  Discussions of learned behaviors for both the victim and the perpetrator are considered and explained.

• Aspects of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy are explained; why abusers and victims do what they do, distress tolerance, and what happens to the brain during fight or flight response.

• We discuss traumatic triggers and how to cope with them through interventions such as; mindfulness,sense of control, and connection of thoughts and behaviors.