Women’s Therapeutic Empowerment Self-Defense Training: an Integrated approach toward Healing and Violence Prevention
The Safety Team is delighted to offer an innovative program developed by psychologist and founding member of The Safety Team, Dr. Christine DiBlasio. This program, Therapeutic Empowerment Self-Defense (TESD™), is designed specifically for trauma survivors, and uses an integrated mind-body approach towards trauma recovery and violence prevention. TESD is supported in part by a grant from Vermont Center for Victim Services. Enrollment is open until June 2024 . Please note that insurance may be billed for these services, and/or there may be a fee to enroll.
Intended for women over the age of 18 who have experienced interpersonal violence (physical or sexual assault) at any point in their history, the TESD program offers 1 to 3 individual sessions, and, when ready, up to 6 hours of small group sessions. A mental health provider will be at every session, and there will be one or two additional instructors.
The individual and group sessions will include:
- Psycho-education about Trauma
- Grounding and Stabilization Techniques
- Information on:
- Neurobiological Responses to Threat
- Redirecting Blame towards the Perpetrator
- Somatic Reprocessing: An Integrated Mind-Body Approach to Healing
- Therapeutic Empower Self-Defense Training
- Sexual Assault Information
- Affirmative Consent
- Empowerment Self-Defense Mindset
- Verbal and Physical Boundary Setting
- Empowerment Self-Defense Techniques
- Risk Reduction Strategies
No prior experience is necessary. All of this content is delivered in a way that is attuned to each person’s emotional and physical needs while offering opportunities for healing and reparative experiences.
*This program is not suitable for those who are currently experiencing domestic violence or other interpersonal violence. Additional participation criteria are utilized to determine eligibility.
Benefits to Victims: It is important to note that The Safety Team’s approach is unique from other victim services. We understand the pivotal role that somatic reprocessing plays in the healing process, particularly in regard to the trauma caused by interpersonal violence. Extensive research in the field of trauma recovery affirms not only the mind-body connection, but the importance of integrating movement as part of treatment (Drs. Van der Kolk, Levine, and others). From our own work with victims, The Safety Team has seen this in action; women gain a sense of confidence and control, learn that their bodies have power, and rediscover a feeling of personal safety and freedom. At all levels of our programming, we incorporate physical movement, as one’s sense of agency, one’s empowerment, is also a bodily experience. Our programs reaffirm to women that they have the right to take up space, are deserving of respect, and have more emotional and physical power than they realize.
For more information, please contact Christine DiBlasio, Ph.D., PLC at 654-7607 ext 2 or email christine@thesafetyteam.org.