We Are Ten Years Old!
10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS 23/24 MARCH 2007
On the 24 March 1997 MSSAT was incorporated and registered under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957, some six years after its conception as a support group. From Ian Bennett's simple need, expressed to his Counsellor, to meet other men who had similar traumatic childhood experiences this organisation has grown.
It is time to celebrate!
VENUE: HOLIDAY INN ON AVON, 356 OXFORD TERRACE, CHRISTCHURCH www.holidayinn.co.nz
PROGRAM: FRIDAY 23 MARCH 2007.
(see Keynote Speakers and Workshop Presenters Information below)
8-30 - 9-30am Registration and Coffee in the "Bealey Combined Room".
9-30 - 10-00am Powhiri.
10-00 - 10-30am Address by Tim Barnett MP.
10-30 - 11-00am Morning Tea.
11-00 - 11-45am Address by John Lewis Dip. Couns., Chairperson MSSAT and
Ken Clearwater, Manager MSSAT.
11-45 - 12-30pm Key Note Speaker - Mike Lew M.Ed., Psychotherapist and Author (U.S.A).
12-30 - 1-15pm Lunch.
1-15 - 2-00pm Key Note Speaker - Dr.med. Werner Tschan, Psychiatrist and Author (Switzerland).
2-00 - 3-00pm Workshops - Maggy Tai Rekana, Manager START Inc., - "Working with children".
- John Prince MNZM, Administrator MSSAT, - "Using art in therapy".
- Ken Clearwater - "Institutional Abuse" "MSSAT the past, the future"
3-00 - 3-30pm Afternoon Tea.
3-30 - 4-30pm Workshops - Dr. med. Werner Tschan - "Professional Sexual Misconduct".
- Aaron Gilmore - "Male survivors/Female offenders".
- STOP - "Working with Offenders ".
5-00pm Close.
ANNIVERSARY DINNER (Friday 23 March).
6-30pm for 7-00pm - MSSAT 10th Anniversary Celebratory Dinner in the "Canterbury Suite".
PROGRAM: SATURDAY 24 MARCH 2007
"VICTIMS NO LONGER" - A survivors workshop with Mike Lew M. Ed.
Commencing at 9-30am, Morning Tea 11-00am, Lunch 1-00pm, Afternoon Tea 3-00pm, Close 4-30pm.
REGISTRATION
(A) - Daytime program* - Friday 23 March 2007. (i) Early registration with payment by 9/02/07 $100-00
(including M/tea, Lunch, A/tea). (ii) Ordinary Registration with payment $125-00
(GST incl. MSSAT GST No. 68-376-173)
*N.B. Survivors/clients contact MSSAT.
(B) - 10th Anniversary Dinner - Friday 23 March 2007 - 6-30pm for 7pm.
$50-00 per person (Cash Bar available).
(C) - Survivors Workshop; with Mike Lew - Saturday 24 March 2007
$50-00 per person, (includes M/tea, Lunch & A/tea).
(D) - Accomodation available at Holiday Inn, contact Marie Budd on (03) 353 4104 or email conf@holidayinnonavon.co.nz
Cheques for (A), and/or (B), and/or (C) to be made payable to MSSAT and forwarded to MSSAT, P O Box 22 363, Christchurch 8142, N.Z.
In relation to (B) and (C) please indicate which item the payment covers, as both are $50, kindly also include your name (and organisation if applicable), and address.
Workshop Presenters and Keynote Speakers - Information and Abstracts
Marcella LEONARD MSc, Adv.SW, BSc, C.Q.S.W., A.S.W., P.T.A., PG Dip ATSO.
Marcella, who hails from Northern Ireland is Clinical Team Leader for the Adult Programme at STOP, which provides group work treatment for men who have sexually abused. The group work is supported with individual sessions. In recognising that sexual abuse doesnot affect only the victim and the man who has sexually abused, STOP is committed to provide a systemic approach to working with sexual abuse. Therefore STOP provides assessment and education for partners/significant others within the man's system. Marcella intends to discuss the Risk Assessment and Treatment approaches of the STOP Adult Team as well as Partner/Significant Other work. She will discuss the links of trauma to sexual offending and challenge some of the assumptions held in relation to the victim becoming the victimiser in relation to males and where understanding trauma has a role within sexual offending treatment.
Marcella's professional background has been in the field of psychosexual medicine and mental health initially. She then established a Community based programme in Northern Ireland which had a triad of services providing assessment and treatment of people who sexually abuse, therapeutic work with survivors of sexual abuse and psychosexual disfunctions. Marcella holds a firm belief in the need for clinicians working within the field of sexual abuse to have therapeutic experiences of the holistic area of sexuality. After establishing this service in 1994, Marcella led this service until she became an Independent Consultant in N. Ireland, U.K. and in Ireland. Within this consultancy Marcella offered external consultation to agencies such as Probation, Social Services as well as voluntary groups. She is an expert witness within the court service of Northern Ireland and regularily provides opinion to legal services in areas of sexual abuse and mental health, childhood trauma and its impact on parenting. Marcella also held a contract tutor role with the Queens University Belfast, school of social work. Marcella, while in Christchurch also continues to sit as an independent advisor to various orgainisations within the filed of sexual abuse within Northern Ireland.
Aaron Gilmore
For a long time I wondered Why me? Why my innocoence burned? Why didn't I stop it? Why didn't I tell someone? Why? Why? Why? I had so much confusion and shame, so many questions and no answers. What I did have, was a strong belief that I shouldn't feel this way and that this was not my crap to carry. So slowly built the courage to do something about it.
I have had a crazy rollercoaster of a journey since deciding to face my past and my beliefs (false beliefs) about myself. I have had alot of ups and downs and boy have they been extreme but mostly, I have tried to follow what feels right to me.That little voice inside, the one that you can hear when the negative one decides
to pause for an occasional breath.
I know everyone has a different story, but the effect is the same. It makes you feel like s*%&. I don't pretend to have all the answers but what I would like to do in March at the 10 year convention is share with you what has worked for me. I can say with all my heart, I feel more alive now than I ever have. And I would love the
opportunity to share that with you.
Aaron Gilmore: 'Dance like no one's watching'
Ken Clearwater
"Institutional Abuse and the Future of MSSA Trust" - Ken Clearwater -1 Hour Presentation
This presentation will cover where MSSA Trust has come from, the issues in regards to the Institutional Abuse and the future for the Trust.
I believe the work we are doing is up with the rest of the world and we face the same challenges:
• The struggle to accept that males are victims of sexual abuse.
• Society and Government lack of understanding and knowledge on male victims.
• Lack of research in regards to male victims in New Zealand
• Lack of funding.
• Lack of Professionals working in this field.
I started with the Trust in a voluntary position in 1996. I have been the Manager since 2000. Starting in a volunteering capacity then on to full time paid position in 2002.
I have completed many courses in regards to Child Sexual Abuse and completed the Certificate in Social Work at the University of Canterbury in 2002.
I am currently the only male member of NNESVT (National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together). Looking at getting a better understanding from the Government and Society in regards to victims of sexual abuse, men, women and children.
Through my work I have had the privilege of travelling to America in 2003 to the 10th International Conference on Male Victimization, “Healing The Healers” and “Victims No Longer” in England in 2004 and 2006, the First National Conference on Male Victims in Galway Ireland in 2004 and met with the Director/Founder of British Columbia Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse in Canada in 2005.
Werner Tschan MD
Werner was born in 1953 in Liestal, Switzerland. After completing Medical School in Basel, he did postgraduate training as a Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist and was conferred with the discipline title in 1989.
His presentation covers "Prevention of sexual abuse in institutional settings (e.g. teachers, physicians, nurses, clergy, lawyers, etc., and also fellow-workers and client to client abuse"
The male role model.
The perspective of male survivors of sexual abuse.
Adults are role models for juveniles. Adults can not wreak havoc and on the other hand demand good behaviour from juveniles. Instead of implementing a repressive education adults need to provide healthy boundaries which help to enable a "secure base" for juveniles.
By their disclosure male survivors of sexual abuse challenge contemporary predominant role models. Talking about one's victimization and sharing intimacy with each other is a commitment to human relationship and helps to stop the transgenerational circle of violence.
Good role models are the basis for male responsibility and enable a vision of well balanced life conditions despite the atrocities we face when talking about sexual violence.
Werner further comments that awareness of the magnitude and the impact of PSM (Professional Sexual Abuse) is a precondition for any preventive strategy. Male survivors of institutional abuse are invited to share their experiences. What helps overcoming institutional abuse, and what is done by institutions which helps prevent further abuse? The aim of this workshop is to release a paper on prevention of institutional abuse in New Zealand.
Mike Lew M. Ed.
Mike is a psychotherapist and group leader in Boston, Mass., USA, and codirector of The Next Step Counselling and Training Centre. His publications include to authorative books especially written for male survivors, "Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from Incest and Other Sexual Child Abuse", and "Leaping Upon the Moutains: Men Proclaiming Victory over Sexual Child Abuse". He has appeared on the "Oprah Winfrey Show", "Sally Jessy Raphael", "People are Talking" and many other TV and Radio shows. He is well known to NZ Audiences through his presentations for DSAC and for faciltating the first Male Survivors residential workshop held in N.Z.
A client recently referred to Mike as a "Bloke Whisperer" which aptly sums this kind and very careing man. His presentation for MSSAT on Friday 23 March will be a surprise, but the term "Heroes" could well be the title.
Maggy Tai Rakena
Maggy is the Manager of START Inc. (Sexual Abuse Therapy and Rehabilitation Inc. 1988) and has been in the role for more than 12 years. Her tasks include the oversight of all day to day operations as well as assisting with the education programme. Her early work life was in early childhood education including creche, full daycare and kohanga reo then with some 15 years school board experience she moved into NGO management. Formal training in early childhood education, social work, community psychiatric care and management have provided the eclectic mix from which Maggy has learned the balancing act which is NGO service management in N.Z.!
START Inc. is a community based counselling agency providing professional services for sexually abused children, youths and adults. This agency was established nearly 20 years ago to address the lack of therapeutic services available in Christchurch for young people who had disclosed sexual abuse and continues this focus today. This small specialist service employs qualified staff and operates from a homely suburban venue with plenty of parking and accessible bus routes.
Maggy will talk mainly about working with children.
