Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 836

Tonight's special guest is Ava Schlesinger from New Jersey, Clinical Director at the Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Crisis Center. The Center's Outreach Program provides individual support and counseling to both domestic violence and sexual assault clients (and significant others), two Women's Domestic Violence Support Groups, a comprehensive Legal Advocacy program, and accompaniment to hospitals, police stations, and courts. DASASCC (pronounced day-sack) knows domestic violence is not about anger; it is about power and control, and it encompasses more than physical abuse. Other forms of domestic violence include emotional, verbal, financial, and sexual abuses. DASASCC recognizes that victims are the experts in their situations and through support counseling assists them in weighing their options. The ultimate goal is the safety of the victim regardless of her choice to stay or leave the situation. Over the past 17 years Ava has developed a clinical expertise in the area of sexual abuse, assault, trauma and dissociation. She is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). This powerful short-term therapy is highly effective for a wide range of disorders including recovery from sexual abuse, rape and traumatic incidents, depression, panic attacks, phobias, eating disorders and poor self-image, stress, worry. Ava is deeply directed toward innovation in direct services, advocacy and grass roots efforts in the arenas of human trafficking, poverty prevention, economic justice and human and women's rights. See the web site at: www.BESAFEWC.org