COVID response: We are delivering our services in-person, online or via telephone. All counsellors are available in-person or remotely if needed for online or phone sessions. Please book with a counsellor in the ‘Contact Us’ section or use the link provided here to book an in-person or phone/online session. Click here to book a session. Please call or email if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you, in-person or online, again.
Training, Supervision and Research
Our Training
Our multicultural team offers training, supervision and research in relation to violence cessation and recovery. This includes understanding and intervening in interpersonal and domestic violence in the context of greater systemic violence and inequality. We offer trainings on topics such as:
Responding to violence against women and vulnerable populations
Conceptualizing and intervening in violence, broadly defined
Understanding response-based and social justice-centered practice
Risk assessments, Islands of Safety and safety planning
Interviewing skills for clarifying violence and responses to it
Feminist and Indigenist approaches to community safety
Counsellor, social service, business sector, and Social Worker Training
Training is available for 2 hour staff meetings, half day, one or two day training. Please contact us for rates.
Cultural Competency Training Offered
Diversity and inclusion in the Workplace
Addressing Racism In Canada and Implications for Clinical Practice
Examples of Successful Past Training
Bonnah, S. & Wade, A. (2020) Following Our Peoples’ Way: Building a Circle of Dignity and Justice project. Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society (LAWS). Watson Lake, Yukon.
Coates, L., Bonnah, S. & Richardson, C. (2018). Beauty and the Beast: Misrepresentation and Social Responses in Fairytale Romance and Redemption. In C. Richardson & E. Fast (Eds). Life Matters : Acknowledging victim resistance and the power of social responses. International Journal of the Child, Youth and Family Studies, 10(1), 1-2. DOI: 10.18357/ijcyfs101201918803
Richardson, C. (2018). Islands of Safety Workshop. Alberta Congress of Social Workers. Edmonton, Alberta. March 24, 2018.
Bonnah, S. & Wade, A. (2018). Response-Based Practice in a Child Protection Setting. (Keynote Address). Department of Family and Community Services, New South Wales. Sydney, Australia.
Richardson, C. (2017). Islands of Safety. Annual Conference of the New South Wales Family and Child Services. Sydney, Australia. September 5 and 6, 2017.
Bonnah, S. & Carrier, R.C. (2015). Response-Based Practice with Aboriginal Children and Youth. BC Society of Transition Houses: Webinar.
Richardson, C. Organized Dignity 2015 in Duncan, B.C, a conference on dealing with violence.
Richardson, C. Organized the SSHRC-funded Responses to Interpersonal Violence conference at the University of Montreal, in 2016.
Richardson, C. Facilitated a two-day training in Pincher Creek Alberta for the Pincher Creek Women’s Centre, March 2016.
Richardson, C. Presented on “Islands of Safety and Response-Based Practice” for Dehcho Health and Social Services in Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, December 2015.
Richardson, C. co-facilitated a two-day training “An Introduction to Response-Based Practice” with Renée-Claude Carrier, for Sken:nen A’onsonton in Kahnawake.
Richardson, C. Organized the “Mind the Gap 5” conference in Cowichan Bay on Violence, Resistance and the Power of Language, May 2015.
Bonnah, S. & Richardson, C. (2014). Child Protection & Children In Care. In Dignity Conference; Yellowknife, NWT.
Richardson, C. Co-facilitated the “Beyond Violence” conference sponsored by the Yukon Women’s Directorate, Whitehorse, Yukon, September 12,13. 2014.
Richardson, C. Organized the “Mind the Gap 5” conference in Cowichan Bay on Violence, Resistance and the Power of Language, May 2014.
Richardson, C. Organizing the “Mind the Gap 6” conference, held May 2015.
Richardson, C. Co-presented with Dr. Allan Wade at three separate Response-Based workshops in New Zealand for social services workers, April 2014 and April 2013. There were approximately 200 in attendance for each of the sessions.
Bonnah, S., & Richardson, C. (2013). In Dignity; Addressing Domestic Violence Through Response-Based Practice. (Islands of Safety: Response-Based Practice in Child Protection with Indigenous Communities). Calgary Women’s Shelter Conference: Calgary, Alberta.
Richardson, C., & Chartrand, A. (2010, April). The importance of attending to human dignity when working with Indigenous communities. Two-hour presentation for the Community Research Office, University of Victoria.
Richardson, C. (2010, March 29). Métis culture and the circle of courage. Workshop presented at “Caring for Our Babies through Traditional Teachings and Practices,” an event sponsored by the Indigenous Child Welfare Network and held at Métis Community Services, Victoria, BC. I assisted in the organization of this event and offered a training workshop.
Richardson, C., Wade, A., & Henry, C. (2009, September). Creating islands of safety in cases of violence in families. One-day training for Lalum’utul’ Smun’eem, Cowichan Tribes Child and Family Services, Duncan, BC. (Academic service)
Richardson, C., & Wade, A. (2009, June). One-day training workshop for Indigenous front-line workers sponsored by the University of Victoria and Camosun College. Nil/Tu,o Child and Family Services, Tsawout Reserve, Victoria, BC.
Published Articles
Richardson, C., Fast, E. (2018). Victim-blaming and the crisis in representation in the violence prevention field. In C. Richardson & E. Fast (Eds). Life Matters : Acknowledging victim resistance and the power of social responses. International Journal of the Child, Youth and Family Studies, 10(1), 1-2. DOI: 10.18357/ijcyfs101201918803
Richardson, C. (2015). The role of response-based practice in activism. In [Eds] Hyden, M. Gadd, D., Wade, A. (2015). Response-based approaches to the study of interpersonal violence: New Answers to old questions. London: Pallgrave-MacMillan http://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137409546
Richardson, C. & Bonnah, S. (2015). Taking children’s resistance seriously. In [Eds.] S. Strega & J. Carriere. Walking This Path Together 2. Winnipeg: Fernwood.
Richardson, C. (2015). The role of response-based practice in activism. In [Eds] Hyden, M. Gadd, D., Wade, A. (2015). Response-based approaches to the study of interpersonal violence: New Answers to old questions. London: Pallgrave-MacMillan http://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137409546
Richardson, C., (2012). Indigenous Women, RCMP and Service Providers Work Together for Justice: A Response-Based Safety Collaboration in the Yukon”. BC Research to Practice Network. http://fcssbc.ca/learning/research-to-practice/research-to-practice-articles/
Richardson, C. (2009, July). Islands of safety and the social geography of human dignity: A child and mother safety planning initiative for cases of paternal violence in child welfare. Federation of Community Social Services of BC, Research to Practice Network, 1-12.
Bonnah, S. (2008). Profiles of resistance; A response-based approach with youth in care. Saarbrucken: VDM Verlag.
Richardson, C. (2008). A word is worth a thousand pictures: Working with Aboriginal women who have experienced violence. In Lynda R. Ross (Ed.), Feminist counselling: Theories, issues and practice. Toronto: Women’s Press, 122-148.
Richardson, C., & Wade, A. (2008). Taking resistance seriously: A response-based approach to social work in cases of violence against Indigenous women. In S. Strega & J. Carriere (Eds.), Walking this path together: Anti-racist and anti-oppressive child welfare practice. Winnipeg, MB: Fernwood.
