You are not alone: Exploring ways to support survivors of sexual assault and violence

Presented by SickKids CCMH Learning Institute

Registration includes both the live webinar training and a follow-up online Community of Practice session designed to support the application of learning in practice.

Session schedule

Live webinar training - You are not alone:

Date: June 16, 2026 | Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET

CE hours: 3 (CE hours applicable to live webinar training only)

Follow-up Community of Practice (online session):

Date: July 27, 2026 | Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET

Facilitator: Karine Silverwoman, MSW, RSW.

This training is suitable for:

• Mental Health Professionals: psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, social workers.
• Medical Professionals: nurses, psychiatrists, pediatricians, family doctors.
• Educators: teachers, ECE, school administration, support staff.
• Direct Service Workers: drop in workers, shelter and hostel workers, child and youth workers, youth justice workers.
• First Responders: police, firefighters, paramedics.

Level of Training: Introductory/intermediate

Trigger warning: Participating in our programming may evoke powerful feelings and can trigger participants who have experienced personal trauma. The facilitator aims to embody trauma-informed practice in the training. There will be plenty of breaks, pauses and moments to check-in about self care.

You are not alone webinar overview

Sexual assault (SA) and violence (SV) are distressing and traumatic experiences that can leave psychological, emotional and physical scars on the survivors, affecting all walks of their lives.

Through the dedicated efforts of activist and survivor-led movements, the deeply entrenched issue of SA and SV in our society has been brought into the spotlight. As a result, it is imperative to support professionals with the necessary tools and resources required to work with survivors in a compassionate, supportive, and trauma-informed manner.

In this training, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how to support survivors from a trauma-informed, strength-based and social justice lens. The topic will be understood and taught from a clinical, social, and political lens while centring the experiences of survivors. Meaningful and reflective tools will be explored on how to work with and support survivors with skill, care and compassion. The workshop will explore ways to center survivors, understand elements of consent, learn healing approaches and risk assessment for safety concerns. Participants will engage with how to sustain and support themselves as they do this important work.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the impacts of sexual assault (SA) from a clinical, social and political lens on survivors and communities.
• Grasp the impacts of trauma – gain insights into the emotional, psychological and physical effects of survivors, considering both short-term and long-term impacts.
• Understand the core ideas and principles of trauma-informed care in relation to working with survivors.
• Explore consent, disclosures and risk assessment.
• Deepen trauma-informed skills and understand the impact of SA. 
• Find ways to support and sustain oneself in the work of supporting survivors. 
• Engage in a survivor-centred approach – emphasize the importance of placing survivors at the center of all responses and support services. 
• Support survivors from a compassionate trauma-informed and intersectional lens.

Follow-up Community of Practice overview

This interactive session offers an opportunity to revisit key ideas from the training, reflect on how the learning is being applied in practice, and explore questions that arise when supporting survivors in clinical and community settings.

Through guided discussion and shared reflection, participants will learn from one another’s experiences while deepening their understanding of trauma-informed and survivor-centred approaches. Karine will facilitate the conversation and offer additional insights on topics such as responding to disclosures, consent and safety considerations, and sustaining oneself in this work.

After registering, participants will receive a brief survey where they can submit questions or topics to help guide the session. While it may not be possible to respond to every individual question, common themes from participant responses will help shape the discussion.

This follow-up session provides a great opportunity to reconnect with peers, continue the conversation, and further strengthen your work supporting survivors.

Please note: This Community of Practice is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered supervision or consultation regarding specific cases. SickKids CCMH Learning Institute and Karine Silverwoman assume no clinical responsibility for the application of the information shared.

Join us for this two-part learning experience designed to support the application of trauma-informed care when working with survivors.

Registration fee: General - $200  |  Student and group rates are available

For full program overview and registration details please visit: https://cvent.me/Da4LKG

Facilitator Bio:
Karine Silverwoman, MSW, RSW, is a passionate practitioner, consultant and educator with over 20 years of experience in the social work sector. Her work is informed by an understanding of how  trauma and oppression  impact our bodies and communities. She has extensive training in trauma-informed therapeutic approaches, clinical supervision and leadership and in applying strategies to assist front-line workers and other practitioners to deepen their skills and align their  work with their values. She has worked in a wide variety of settings and roles including, Director of Counseling for a gender based violence clinic, consultant , street outreach worker, therapist,  youth worker and social work instructor at Toronto Metropolitan University and George Brown College. Her approach is guided by a social justice, anti-colonial, queer/trans affirming and strength-based lens. As a trainer, she embeds a trauma-informed lens and creates brave, reflective learning spaces. She interweaves practical examples, a sense of humour and an ethic of care into all her training, believing, as she does, in a world where everyone should be able to live with dignity, safety and belonging. 

Continuing Education (CE) information: 3 CE hours