Training
The Safety & Repair Approach
The Safety & Repair Approach to gender based violence
“As a victim of domestic assault in my recent past, I found it incredibly comforting to hear about the work you do to repair harm. In my own experience the legal aspect seemed more important rather than my well-being or his repair and understanding of such behaviors that he had done. I know that such services would have helped me heal personally earlier on rather than simply taking it to court and focusing on the legality aspect. My healing process did not begin until after a court trial that took two years. I wish I had such counselling while going through the trial to better understand the complexity of my situation.” ~Training participant
Gender Based Violence Intervention Training - for Practitioners and Counsellors
Tod Augusta Scott has extensive experience in training. He is known internationally for his Safety & Repair Approach presentations and workshops. He is currently engaged in a four year research project funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada to study the implementation of the Safety and Repair approach to IPV at sites across Atlantic Canada.
The training addresses gender based violence, including intimate partner violence, sexual assault and sexual harassment. It introduces individual practitioners and organizations to a process to address gender based violence which seeks to repair harm without creating more harm. The approach often involves two practitioners, one assisting each person involved through the 3-Phase process.
Practitioners will learn about the principles and tools used in Narrative Therapy, Trauma Work and Restorative Justice. As practitioners learn how to navigate through the 3-Phase process which makes safety and repair possible, the focus is on repairing harm and not necessarily on restoring an intimate relationship.
At each phase, practitioners address how gender expectations and ideas that stem from trauma can foster abuse and impair people’s ability to repair harm, both when they are hurt and when they have hurt others, blending restorative processes that seek to repair harm and narrative practices such as: re-authoring identity; externalizing conversations; statement of position maps; outsider-witnessing; and re-membering practices.
“I truly enjoyed the Safety & Repair approach and would love to participate in a more in depth training in the future. The examples and videos aided in understanding what the approach looks like in a practice setting. I also liked how affirming and encouraging this training was to the work I currently do. Thank you for the great work you do and approaching practice from a hopeful stance that allows folks to feel like they are seen and heard!!” ~Training participant
Safety & Repair: A 3-phase approach to addressing trauma, gender & IPV
Through this training practitioners learn the Safety and Repair approach to working with gender-based violence. This approach is applicable in cases of domestic violence, sexual harassment and sexual assault. The approach is focused in repairing harm, which may not include restoring on-going relationships.
This approach has three phases.
Practitioners learn how to establish both physical and emotional safety with clients.. This includes working with clients to develop collaborative relationships, engaging in somatic body work, and helping clients create their own pathways to repair.
Practitioners learn how to prepare clients to repair harm in relationships, with the people who hurt them and with the people they have hurt. Again, they learn to repair harm without creating more harm. They will help prepare clients to engage in the four components of repairing harm. The four components of repair involve:
- acknowledging the details of the abuse
- creating a plan to stop the abuse
- acknowledging the effects of the abuse
- creating a future plan to repair the effects of abuse
Once people are prepared to talk about these four components of repair, they are ready to move to Phase 3.
Practitioners learn how to determine which clients are ready to open communication with the other person to repair harm. Practitioners learn how to facilitate communication between people to repair harm. They also learn how to assess which mode of communication will be helpful: in person; video; email; phone or through the two practitioners. Practitioners will also learn how to facilitate communication with clients about the four components of repair.
Learning Objectives:
Practitioners will learn about how to address the four components of repair at each phase. The four components of repair involve:
- acknowledging the details of the abuse;
- creating a plan to stop the abuse;
- acknowledging the effects of the abuse and
- creating a future plan to repair the effects of abuse.
At each phase, practitioners address how trauma and unhelpful ideas about gender can impair people’s ability to repair harm, both when they are hurt and when they hurt others. This restorative process draws on Narrative Therapy. Practitioners will learn how to engage in various narrative practices such as re-authoring identity, externalizing conversations; statement of position maps; outsider-witnessing and re-membering practices.
“Honestly, this was a huge learning opportunity and the entire process was so helpful. The role play was incredibly useful to see the process broken down. The conversation around clients having many stories and not being limited by their stories was very insightful. The entire session was wonderful.” ~Training participant
“You made the material more easily understood by linking complex concepts to real life. Also reminded me of the complexities of individuals which I think is easy to overlook when working in care fields like social work/ therapy. Really enjoyed your talk, truly! Thank you!!” ~Training participant
Upcoming Gender Based Violence Intervention Trainings
The upcoming public training dates and times are listed below. The cost of the following public 2 day training is $595 plus tax. The 1/2 day public training is $195 plus tax. For private training costs, please call our office or reach out through our form and someone from our office will call you to discuss.
Safety & Repair: A 3-phase approach to address gender based violence - 2 day
Online Training (Mar 25 & Apr 8, 2026, 10:30 am – 5:30 pm AST)
“A very thoughtful, detailed discussion of a possible pathway to repair. I liked (as always) Tod’s pace, humility, wisdom, use of examples, attention to structural issues, and clear communication. It caused me to reflect on my practices, working with men and in the area of restorative justice.” ~Training participant
Training Registration Form
Safety & Repair at Work
Tod Augusta Scott writes about how he uses some of the principles of the Safety & Repair approach to address the concept of Military Masculinity in a report published by the Center for Social Innovation and Community Engagement in Military Affairs at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, NS. Follow this link to read his full article: Addressing Unhelpful Ideas about Masculinity in the Canadian Armed Forces: A Practitioner’s Perspective.
Safety & Repair Manual
Tod Augusta Scott has developed a comprehensive manual outlining the fundamental processes and skills used in applying the Safety & Repair approach. Click on the link below to reach our manual order form page.
