Peace Over Violence is a trauma informed organization that provides services to help survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault recover from trauma.
We strongly believe that clients need to be active participants in this process.
We utilize the Trauma Resilience Integration Using Multiple Pathways of Healing (TRIUMPH) Model to operate from a trauma- and resiliency-informed framework for survivors of gender-based interpersonal violence. We use the stages of trauma recovery articulated by Judith Herman integrated with neurobiology, cultural and community practices.
Individual Counseling, One on One
We offer individual, group, and family counseling. During the intake process, the counselor or case manager will discuss what options are available based on your needs.
Individual crisis counseling can decrease the long-term impact of trauma.
Peace Over Violence provides crisis intervention (less than 15 sessions) or short-term counseling (less than 6 months). The counselors have varying degrees of education and training. Your counselor may be a licensed mental health professional, pre-licensed (license-eligible) mental health professional, clinical intern/trainee, and/or paraprofessional counselor. However, all counselors have been trained in crisis intervention, trauma, trauma informed approaches, sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, court system, etc. through POV’s extensive training program of 82.5 hours. The counselors have specialized in working with survivors of trauma and interpersonal violence to assist in their recovery and healing process.
Our counselors use a trauma and resiliency-informed, humanistic and psychoeducational approaches. We utilize evidenced based practices such as trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT), somatic interventions, Community Resiliency Model (CRM), Neurofeedback and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Support Groups
The support groups we offer help to reduce the isolation of traumatic victimization by connecting survivors with other survivors who can share and support each other.
Our group counseling uses a psychoeducational model, meaning that groups provide education on several topics to facilitate healing, such as domestic violence, sexual abuse/assault, safety planning, parenting, empowerment skills, trauma and trauma symptoms, coping skills, healthy relationships, communication skills, etc. If you are interested in learning more about a support group or would like to join one, please call our Metro Office at 213.955.9090 EXT 502. All participants must have an intake with a counselor or case manager prior to joining.*
Support groups are offered in English, Spanish and American Sign Language.
Groups we offer
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13-week Psycho-education group. This is space for identified victim/survivor in the relationship. It is non-gender specific. The group is available in English, Spanish, or ASL. Topics include: red flags and tactics, its effects on the survivor and children, power and control, and the cycle of violence. Fulfills DCFS court requirements.
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Psycho-education group for female identifying survivors of sexual assault. Adults molested as children (AMAC) survivors are welcome too. Topics include: Trauma 101, Coping tools, Trauma & identity, Body empowerment, addiction, SA in the family, rape culture, consent, and survivor guest speaker.
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This is a psychoeducational and processing group for anyone living with chronic physical illness or fatigue. Topics include: mind + body connection, self-advocacy, & positive coping skills.
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This is a psychoeducational and processing group for Black identifying female survivors of DV or SA.
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Webinar style, we explore the dating world after trauma. Topics include: exploring the inner critic, meanings of love, patterns being recreated in romantic partners.
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Educational and processing group for stalking survivors.
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Educational group for POV clients. Topics include: communication, digital skills, empowerment, self-care, relational skills, financial literacy, and decision making skills.
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Arts & crafts projects designed to process trauma in a creative way. It is not considered a verbal processing group.
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A trauma-informed practice helping women reconnect with their bodies, heal from trauma, and build healthy relationships with themselves and others.
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Learning regulation skills to manage emotions, feelings, and even moods in a positive way. Emotion regulation is attuning emotion responses to current context, especially in time of distress.
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Yoga strategies from a trauma informed lens with mindfulness to how trauma gets stuck in the body sometimes. This is a safe space to connect with your body at your own pace.
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Survivors are given an opportunity to use art as a healing tool from interpersonal violence. By providing an environment that promotes healing, art workshops help survivors to develop a renewed sense of hope and possibility that profoundly impacts future decisions regarding the direction of their lives, their relationships, and how to stay safe. Art empowers survivors to transform how they view themselves, allowing them to see past the abusive experiences they have had and rebuild their self-confidence.
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A space to debrief emotions, feelings, etc that may have come up during the yoga group.
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10-week workshop to provide non-offending parents with information about protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
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Pre-requisite: SA Educational group or Still I Rise group.
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An intake appointment does not guarantee that you will be assigned a therapist. Trauma Informed Services also means making an assessment about the most appropriate treatment plan. There are times when a higher level of care is needed for several reasons. If this occurs, we will discuss this treatment plan with you and ensure that you are connected to the most appropriate services. We have many cross collaborations with local organizations that may be a better fit for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is there a cost for services?
All services are free of charge. We are a Trauma Recovery Center that offers services for survivors of crime. We focus on intimate partner violence and sexual abuse therefore, if eligible we can help survivors apply for victims of crime compensation to continue long-term treatment.
Can I attend both individual and group counseling?
Yes and in fact, we encourage you to take advantage of our group offerings.
Are the groups DCFS approved?
POV offers the Thriving Over Violence (TOV) groups that focus on domestic violence. Each group uses a curriculum that teaches the participants about trauma, red flags of DV, healthy relationships, coping skills, and communication. We offer DV groups for women and men in English, Spanish and American Sign Language. The curriculum is 13 weeks, and each participant must attend a minimum of 11 sessions to receive a certificate of completion.
How long will I have to wait?
The current expected wait time to begin individual counseling is 6-8 weeks and for support groups it varies depending on the group you are interested in.
Do you offer parenting classes?
We do offer Trauma informed Parenting that is court approved. It is a 15-week class that is available. Attendance of at least 13 of those sessions is needed to receive a certificate of completion.
What is neurofeedback therapy?
Neurofeedback is direct training of brain function, by which the brain learns to function more efficiently. We observe the brain in action from moment to moment. We show that information back to the person. And we reward the brain for changing its own activity to more appropriate patterns. This is a gradual learning process. It applies to any aspect of brain function that we can measure. Neurofeedback is also called EEG Biofeedback, because it is based on electrical brain activity, the electroencephalogram, or EEG. Neurofeedback is training in self-regulation. It is simply biofeedback applied to the brain directly. Self-regulation is a necessary part of good brain function. Self-regulation training allows the system (the central nervous system) to function better.
www.eeginfo.com
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. Ongoing research supports positive clinical outcomes showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences (Maxfield, 2019). EMDR therapy has even been superior to Prozac in trauma treatment (Van der Kolk et al., 2007). Shapiro and Forrest (2016) share that more than 7 million people have been treated successfully by 110,000 therapists in 130 countries since 2016.
www.emdria.org
What is Trauma Informed Yoga?
Trauma-informed yoga classes use the healing power of meditation, mindfulness and body movement for recovery. Trauma survivors tend to carry toxic stress in their bodies — “issues in the tissues” -- which present as body aches and pains, headaches, etc. Our yoga groups are led by a trained instructor in trauma-informed yoga that supports healing from trauma by using various yoga poses, breathing, social connection, and relaxation. It helps survivors reconnect with their bodies in ways that promote healing and self-acceptance.