Curative care trainees at BBS Alice Salomon raise awareness of everyday violence in social relationships as part of a professional skills training course
Violence is generally defined as a physically or mentally damaging effect on other people. However, violence does not only begin when blows are actually dealt or clear signs of psychological oppression appear. It begins much earlier than we generally imagine. Trainees at the vocational school for curative education were able to gain relevant experience as part of a systemic “anti-violence training course” run by the provider AsPeKT and the two competence trainers Larissa Peters and Gregor Assenmacher last September. The three-day measure was carried out for the third year of training at the Alice Salomon School in Neuwied and aimed to sensitize the class to the various precursors and manifestations of violence in social relationships in the workplace by means of numerous exercises and practical simulations.
As part of conflict resolution and cooperation exercises, the trainees were confronted with situations that were intended to trigger a lasting examination of what they had experienced as well as their own thoughts, perceptions and actions. In the subsequent reflections within the group, it became clear that disregarding jointly agreed rules and arrangements, not letting others finish speaking, ignoring and overstepping the psychological or physical boundaries of others or disregarding alternative views and opinions were already perceived and experienced as assaultive and can therefore be described as clear manifestations of violence. In this context, it also became clear how quickly we ourselves tend towards violence in social interactions, often overlooking our fellow human beings and their legitimate needs. Ultimately, the experiences gained in the exercises also made us realize how difficult it is to muster the necessary courage to communicate and enforce our own boundaries in a timely and noticeable manner when things get too tight or too much for us in social relationships. However, clearly demonstrating our own boundaries is crucial in order to avoid slipping into a victim role.
The sensitization to the complex field of everyday violence and the presentation of new perspectives on the corresponding phenomena and contexts have led to a new, reflected understanding of social relationships within the class community. As a result, the trainees strive for a more thoughtful and sensitive approach to others, but also to themselves and their own boundaries. The three-day measure also raised awareness of early precursors and signs of violence with regard to social relationships within the trainees’ professional practice. As a rule, people with disabilities are even less able to identify the occurrence of everyday violence in situations, relationships and structures within their institutions and to draw boundaries on their own responsibility. A profound and reflective understanding of violence on the part of specialist staff is particularly important here.
The 20-hour skills training course was successfully completed with the award of a certificate. In view of the targeted impetus provided by the measure, the technical college is aiming to provide annual training for trainees in this important subject area in the future.