As we enter Womenâs Month and International Youth Day in August, the topic of gender-based violence in SA continues. Two social workers in South Africa, who work within the realms of sexual abuse, rape and trauma, offer therapeutic and support interventions that stand a bit outside of the better-known options.
Whilst the need for mental health care resources and supportive interventions has been exacerbated by the current Covid-19 pandemic, and recent civil unrest, the reality is that even outside of this, the need for effective mental health care resources will remain a constant. These two social workers are providing powerful resources within South Africa.
LucĂ© Pretorius, a qualified social worker and South African Association of Social Workers in Private Practice (SAASWIPP) member, became involved in 2016 with an intervention called âThis Lady Canâ â an international support group (comprising of 40% South Africans) that offers assistance, comfort and compassion to survivors dealing with their experience of sexual abuse and rape. Pretorius has been managing it since 2018.
âDue to the nature of the traumatic experience, survivors of sexual abuse and rape may believe that family and friends do not fully comprehend the impact of the incident, or that their relationship with a professional does not always provide timely or adequate emotional support. Sadly, some members might not even have access to professional assistance (therapists, counsellors),â explains Pretorius. âA support group made up of people with similar experiences can serve as a link between these needs. Members often have comparable thoughts, fears, challenges or treatment decisions as a result of their shared experience.â
âOur greatest strength is our continuous availability,â continues Pretorius, with its chat room and message boards available 24/7. âShould any of our members be in crisis, there is someone immediately available to offer support.â This has proved hugely beneficial to many members who were considering self-harming or struggling with suicidal thoughts.
In contrast to many other online support groups, âThis Lady Canâ is a private group â strictly accessible only to its members, with new members added via an invitation from an existing member, administrator or moderator.
âOur set up also greatly promotes the building of trust, so essential in a support group such as this,â stresses Pretorius. âWe allow our members to share whatever they are comfortable with, whenever they are comfortable with it. Members of online support groups come together to discuss similar experiences and can share their own experiences and feelings, coping strategies, or just simply information about treatment. We emphasize, however, that there is no obligation to share anything – everyone’s journey is different. The community eventually becomes your family, and it’s perfectly alright just to be part of it. â
The healing-process in a support group is comparable to the techniques used in social work group work. The opportunity for growth, change and social experimentation contribute to the group’s cohesion and perceived helpfulness through a combination of therapeutic elements. âA support group provides a secure environment for people who need to talk about deeply personal difficulties, experiences, struggles, or thoughts. The goal, however, is to empower individuals to address their own challenges,â stresses Pretorius.
There is a distinct emotional identification among people who are experiencing similar situations that differs from the type of help that may be obtained from specialists. âWe do remind our members, however, that a support group is not a substitute for alternative treatment and, that if they have the opportunity, they should pursue other treatment choices simultaneously,â emphasises Pretorius.
Sarah Garland, a qualified social worker with a masterâs degree in Clinical Social Work and a member of SAASWIPP, has been working in the field of equine assisted therapy for over a decade. Having completed her first training in the Eagala (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) model in 2009, Sarah has since received her Advanced Level certification and is currently the networking coordinator for Africa.
âHorses are herd and prey animals, therefore highly attuned to changes in non-verbal communication in order to maintain the safety of the herd,â says Garland. âThey are able to respond to boundaries (moving closer or further away from the individual) based on what cues they are receiving. As a result, they are able to accurately assess the state of being of a person and communicate it nonverbally.â
An equine assisted therapy session will typically involve an equine specialist and a mental health professional. Clients are encouraged to interact with the horses in a variety of ground-based activities. The facilitators observe how the horses respond to the individual, and how they interact with one another. Together the facilitators reflect with the client what they observed, saw, heard, and felt through the experience and begin to relate it to their life. âWe create metaphorical links to what they experience and encourage insight and awareness on what this means for them. The horses form the narrative story for the clients and react to what is being projected, thereby providing immediate feedback,â explains Garland.
âOften women, who have experienced trauma and abuse, put up a hard exterior to try and move on from their experiences and are afraid to trust. Working with horses helps them address their need for support in their healing process. It allows them the space to once again learn how to trust and to develop a healthy relationship with another being, which can then be translated into other relationships in their livesâ, continues Garland.
Social workers have been a critical element of the frontline response since lock down last year, and their ongoing commitment to assisting individuals and society continues. For more information on equine therapy, visit: www.equinoxtrust.org.
