10H00 - 17H00

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“The Neurobiology of Sexual Assault: Understanding Survivor Experiences, Survivor Behaviours and the Implications for Practice”

Linda Baker, Ph. D., C. Psych.

Learning Director, Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children

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In this Institute, participants will learn about emerging findings on the neurobiology of trauma as they pertain to sexual assault.  Emphasis will be placed on the brain circuitries involved in traumatic experiences and how what’s happening in the brain helps explain responses commonly seen in sexual assault survivors (e.g. inconsistent and fragmented memories, lack of resistance to the assault, lack of facial expressions and visible distress).  Practice approaches that are inconsistent and consistent with the neurobiology of sexual assault will be discussed.

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Participants will be better able to:

• Understand the effect of trauma on the brain

• Deconstruct experiences of sexual assault using a neurobiological lens

• Describe how neurobiology shapes survivors’ memories of sexual assault

• Understand how the effect of sexual assault on the brain and body explains common survivor behaviours 

• Recognize responses by professionals that are not consistent with a neurobiological and trauma informed understanding of sexual assault

• Identify and apply behaviours and techniques that have positive effects on survivors and their neurophysiology

• Obtain references for research and resources on the neurobiology of trauma

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