Mental health and gender-based violence 2016 | Page 56

46 Day 2 . Life is turned upside down

TO THE TRAINER
PART II : THE TRAINING

Day 2 . Life is turned upside down

Aims . To ensure the participants are grounded when the story continues . To familiarise the participants with grounding exercises .
After greetings , remind the participants again that the next section of the story contains descriptions of sexual violence and rape . Remember that the participants , as well as the women they assist , may have experienced sexual violence , and that the story may lead to painful reactions and possible re-traumatisation . Let the participants know that those who feel like it may at any time leave the room .
Before you restart the story , do a grounding exercise to ensure the participants remain grounded . A grounding exercise should always be included at this point .
Explain the value of grounding exercises , their role in the training , and how they work .
GROUNDING EXERCISE
Grounding Exercise 1 . Grounding the body .
This exercise is set out on page 45 . It is useful if you see that the group is low on energy . Do the exercise together with the group , while giving them instructions .
Grounding Exercise 7 . Feeling the weight of your body is an alternative .
TEACHING INSTRUCTION . GROUNDING EXERCISES .
Examples of grounding exercises are scattered through the training . It is important to practice them again and again , until the skill becomes automatic , and can be called on even during moments of distress . Always remember to invite survivors to participate in a grounding exercise . They should feel able to accept or not ; the invitation should be an open one .
They are essential to help people remain focused and in the present . If survivors re-traumatise , they can be used to lower their arousal .
Note . All the grounding exercises can be found in Appendix 2 .