Free Workshops: Brain Injury and Intimate Partner Violence – In-Person

Presented by The Journey Project & SOAR

The Journey Project is pleased to partner with Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury Through Research (SOAR) to offer two free workshops this June on the often-overlooked connection between brain injury and intimate partner violence (IPV). Please see the details below to share with members of the Law Society.

About SOAR

SOAR is a registered charity and the only organization in Canada solely dedicated to brain injury (BI) resulting from intimate partner violence. Their work includes:

• Exploring the intersection of BI and IPV
• Educating the public and frontline workers
• Empowering survivors to access the supports and services they need to thrive

Presenters

Karen Mason (she/her)
Co-founder and Executive Director, SOAR
Karen is a seasoned non-profit leader, former Executive Director of both Third Space Charity and the Kelowna Women’s Shelter, and an experienced advocate for survivors of IPV. She brings more than 30 years of experience across the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Her expertise includes trauma-informed practice, advanced strangulation prevention, and knowledge translation. She is affiliated with several research and advocacy groups, including:

• Pink Concussions Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury Task Force
• Women’s Health Research Cluster (UBC)
• ENIGMA International Consortium Working Group on Brain Injury in IPV

Dr. Paul van Donkelaar (he/him)
Co-founder and Scientific Advisor, SOAR
Professor, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, UBC Okanagan
Dr. van Donkelaar’s research focuses on sensorimotor control and the neurocognitive and cerebrovascular consequences of traumatic brain injuries. Since 2016, he has concentrated on better understanding IPV-related brain injury in women.

Workshop Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Gain a foundational understanding of intimate partner violence and abuse
• Learn how brain injury occurs in IPV, including prevalence, signs, and symptoms
• Recognize the frequency and signs of strangulation in IPV
• Understand the effects of IPV-related brain injury on cognition, mental health, and emotional well-being
• Learn how to apply a trauma- and brain injury-informed approach when working with survivors
• Become comfortable discussing and assessing for possible brain injury using the adapted H.E.L.P.S. tool
• Learn about available supports for survivors and how to make appropriate referrals

Details

• Free Admission
• Registration Required
• All participants will receive a certificate of completion, a training manual, and access to downloadable resources

This interactive training is recommended for:
Community advocates, housing and shelter workers, victim services, lawyers, judges, government officials, police and security, nurses, public health workers, educators, and others supporting individuals impacted by IPV.

Workshop Dates & Registration

In-Person | St. John’s
June 16, 2025
Register here

Virtual Session
June 17, 2025
Register here

Questions?
Contact: Emma Duke
emma@journeyprojectnl.com
709-219-0298