Addressing Counselling Barriers for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Rural British Columbia
Addressing Counselling Barriers for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Rural British Columbia
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Issue Date
2024-12
Authors
Cairnie, Katherine
Journal Title
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Abstract
In British Columbia (B.C.), Canada, rural survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) face significantly higher rates and severity of abuse than their urban counterparts, yet are much less likely to access counselling and other support services. Survivors of IPV in rural B.C. face many intersectional barriers which impact their access to counselling, including financial, geographical, systemic (related to criminal justice and social services), cultural (affecting marginalized populations), social (influenced by rural norms and values), and technological barriers. This capstone will explore the barriers and risk factors affecting access to counselling for rural B.C. survivors, culminating in a collaborative workshop grounded in decolonial feminist, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed counselling theory. The workshop aims to help B.C. counsellors and agencies gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by IPV survivors in rural B.C., and support them in developing strategies to address community- and region-specific barriers to counselling. Strategies and recommendations will focus on key themes including community-based resource collaboration; education and awareness-building at personal, professional, and community levels; centering survivors' expertise; providing safe and appropriate services for Indigenous and otherwise minoritized rural IPV survivors; and remaining flexible to the diverse needs of different rural B.C. communities. Ultimately, the goal of this capstone project is to support more IPV survivors in rural B.C. who want to access counselling to be able to do so, and to feel understood and supported when they do.
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Keywords
intimate partner violence , rural British Columbia , rural Canada , decolonial feminist counselling , anti-violence counselling
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States , openAccess