Leap Into Yourself

Working with Shame and Trauma

Level: Intermediate to Advanced

A 2-day Masterclass developing a deeper understanding and effective management of shame and trauma as they manifest in work with persons who use violence

Key Topics:

Day 1: Centring Shame

Empathy – the foundation for behaviour change
Shame - power and possibility
Differentiating between false shame and disgrace shame
Working productively with ambivalence and resistance

Day 2: Centring Trauma

Trauma-responsive practice - essential frameworks
'Self' development - identify and assist the progression of coping roles
Polyvagal theory as a practice tool
Beyond gender and power
Self-preservation and resilience in our work

About the Offering:

Trauma responses in those accessing helping services are often overlooked , with shame frequently neglected. Research shows that healthy shame management can prevent violence against oneself or others, including abusive behaviours, harms from addictions and resistance to treatment.

This Masterclass will explore how shame relates to identity, wellbeing, social connection and behaviour change. Definitions and practical models will be discussed through interactive demonstrations to support trauma-responsive and shame-sensitive practice. You will examine how shame influences violent behaviours (including harm towards others or the self), and how it can encourage growth and positive change. Various theories regarding stress-driven coping mechanisms will be referenced , as well as active use of Psychodrama techniques to promote your learning.

Please note: Whilst applying some psychodrama methods as a learning tool to deepen your practice and better cultivate your skills, this is not training for you to be a psychodramatist or to use psychodrama yourself.

The Masterclass will draw on culturally inclusive methods, intersectional feminism and biopsychosocial frameworks to integrate sociocultural factors and systemic oppression. You will reflect on whether broader systems adequately protect against shame and trauma, drawing from experiences with groups affected by addiction, incarceration, colonisation, and family violence.

Understanding shame and trauma has major implications for family violence prevention, substance abuse, peer work, outreach, and healing-based interventions. Centring shame equips you to better facilitate change and address harmful behaviours.

Key learnings:

better appreciate the ubiquitous nature of Shame and understand the significant risks associated with failing to address it, such as escalating harm.
understand the utility of centring shame-sensitive practice , being better able to recognise it arising in yourself and those you're working with.
expand your awareness for innovative and relational approaches that can better assist your practice when engaging with issues of shame and trauma.
grow your awareness of cultural and systemic factors whilst developing greater capacity to hold multiple truths to better service those seeking your support

Notes about attendance:

We highly recommend that you attend both days if you can as all content will flow and be integrated.
Both days will have interactive components, activities, reflective discussions and tools for practice.

If you have any questions about attendance / bookings or anything else, please reach out via info@ionv.com.au

Who is this Workshop For?

The program is designed for service providers from a range of service areas who are encountering clients that are using and/or experiencing family and domestic violence behaviours. The program will increase your understanding of how to engage with clients who use or are impacted by tactics of coercive control and other abusive behaviours.

Our upcoming workshop is open to all service providers who are working with clients who are impacted by family, domestic and sexual violence, including:

Family violence practitioners
Men's Behaviour Change providers
Crisis support agencies, addictions, mental health, housing, youth services, employment, legal and anyone engaging with clients who are using / experiencing family violence
ACCO's
Multicultural services
Private practice / psychologists / therapists
Anyone holding space in a structured way to support trauma healing particularly around the use or experience of family, domestic and/or sexual violence.

About your Facilitators:

Hala Abdelnour

CEO and Founder of the Institute of non-violence (IoNV), Hala is a passionate advocate for peace and justice. Trained in Psychology, Social Work and Criminology, and with extensive experience in Psychodrama, Hala established IoNV in 2020 as a specialist service supporting family violence response globally.

An advanced group facilitator, Hala has delivered numerous Men’s Behaviour Change programs, as well as psycho-education and therapeutic groups in prison settings, worked in addiction and settlement services and has international experience in a range of industries.

Hala is a vocal advocate for marginalised communities, and has authored several articles and publications, she has featured on various media forums and speakerships on a range of topics. Her journey from a young migrant to a leading advocate for non-violence and inclusion exemplifies her unwavering dedication to creating a more equitable society.

Mark Kulkens

Mark is a clinical psychologist born and raised on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung land in Naarm / Melbourne. With Dutch/Anglo heritage, he considers himself a white Australian committed to truth telling and has been working in areas of family violence since 1997.

Mark has facilitated more than 2500hrs of therapeutic group work with men guilty of sexual and violent crimes. Mark believes shame is - in essence - an in-bodied mechanism designed to keep us safely connected with the mis-management of this shame mechanism, the root of most violence. Mark is father of two and husband to a special one. He enjoys exploring new ideas and wishes he could swim more.

Testimonials:

"It was good how the group members were given the opportunity to explore and express themselves and that the training provided an open space for this. Tuesdays work around Shame and the Poly Vagal Theory was great and really reminded me of how in our assessment process in particular we don't do this well. Having the First Nations lens during the 2 days was good and informative." - Leap Into Yourself Participant, 2023

"Thank you for the opportunity to gather in a safe learning space with others experiencing the same or similar challenges when working with clients, families and community." - Leap Into Yourself participant, 2024

"I would have liked more because it was so interesting and entertaining at the same time. How is that possible talking about such a difficult matter. I loved it. Thank you so much." - Shame and Trauma training participant (Iceland), 2025

"It was very interesting and insightful. Thank you so much for the training and for taking the time to share with us." - Shame and Trauma training participant (Lebanon), 2025

"I learned new concepts and skills from the training which I feel I could apply them to clients with various different struggles." - Shame and Trauma training participant, 2026

Contact the host of Leap Into Yourself - Working With Shame and Trauma (Melbourne)