Abstract
By its very nature, interpersonal violence and traumatization strip the victim of dignity. The behaviors involved in direct assault/attack, exploitation/humiliation, disregard/neglect, lack of protection and corruption/gaslighting involve disrespect and disregard of the victim who is treated as an object or “the other” rather than as an individual who deserves to be treated as worthy and valued. Usually, these forms of victimization occur repeatedly, are entrapping, and escalate over time. The perpetrator(s) use their victims to meet their own needs and often paradoxically blame them for being the cause of their own victimization. Moreover, they create conditions conducive to ongoing and repeated victimization and retraumatization over the entire lifespan. When abuse or other mistreatment occurs at the hands of parents or other family members and anyone else in a special role or position of responsibility, victims are additionally wounded by betrayal trauma. In such circumstances (especially over the course of childhood), their personal identity and self-esteem are directly impacted. Victims internalize “the messages of abuse” in the form of shame, self-blame, and self-hatred. They may have a sense of being different from others and of personal badness or being deserving of mistreatment. Some feel that if there is anything special about them it is negative and somehow the cause of their own misfortune.

Unfortunately, victims of interpersonal violence historically have had these feelings reinforced rather than ameliorated by additional mistreatment by individuals and agencies to whom they turn for help as well as society in general where they have often been labeled as losers and whiners. They have experienced being stigmatized, ridiculed, disbelieved, discredited, and additionally blamed and shamed for what happened to them and for their symptoms, further eroding their self-esteem and self-respect. Since the contemporary study and recognition of the prevalence and dynamics of interpersonal violence has developed, their plight has been increasingly protested and recognized. The Trauma-Informed Care movement has been several decades in the making and its proponents have identified primary organizational and relational dimensions that are needed to reverse this course of societal retraumatization. Healing is only possible in conditions of relative safety and respect. An attuned, responsive, respectful therapeutic relationship has been found to be essential to the healing process. Recognition of the dignity and value of the individual initially may be difficult for the victim to accept and internalize but once it is, it can be critical in the regeneration of self-esteem and self-respect.

Principles of practice that create conditions of healing for traumatized individuals have been identified. One such set of principles, labeled PRISM, has been developed in the context of the sequenced, relationship-based treatment model for complex trauma. PRISM identifies some of the special elements and approaches needed in working with this relationally and personally damaged population. The PRISM principles are discussed as they support the conditions needed to address the damage and to provide dignity for victims of interpersonal violence.

Potential to Distress: No

This recorded conference session was originally presented as part of a live conference in April 2024.