Course Overview
Understanding the Dynamics of Domestic Violence for Family Law Practitioners
This training will provide an overview of the dynamics of domestic violence in the context of separation, divorce, and child custody and access. All are welcome to attend.
Topics covered in this training include:
Topics covered in this training include:
- Types and Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence
- Recognizing Risk Factors
- Intersectionality and Impacts of Intimate Partner Violence on Victims/ Survivors
- Typology of Perpetrators
- Coercive Control
- Domestic Homicide Risk Factors
- Children Exposed to and Experiencing Domestic/ Family Violence
- Family Violence in The Divorce Act and The Children’s Law Act
- The Impact of Trauma and Trauma Informed Practice
- High Conflict Relationship vs. Abuse
- Post-separation Abuse
- Parental Alienation Allegations
- Screening for Intimate Partner Violence
- Risk Assessment and Safety Planning
Duration
4 mornings8am - 12pm CST daily
Format
Online
Live Course
Dates
May 12-15th, 2025
Price
CAD
495
This training qualifies for:
- 15 CPD hours (4.5 of which qualify as ethics hours) under the Law Society of Saskatchewan Continuing Professional Development Policy
- CEE points with ADR Saskatchewan
- 15 hours for Continuing Professional Development credits with Law Society of British Columbia
- Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, and Yukon lawyers: consider including this course as a CPD learning activity in your annual Continuing Professional Development Plan
PATHS has trained more than 285 lawyers, mediators, and professionals working with families who may experience domestic violence. Here is what they’ve had to say about our training:
Working with clients while they are navigating a separation, I recognize the importance of being informed. The session challenged me with things I hadn’t taken into consideration.
This training has helped me to recognize the risk factors for intimate partner violence and how to obtain the information required to refer the client to available resources
I found the information on the behaviors of a perpetrator useful in recognizing one; learning the terminology is useful too; how to approach discussing with a victim or perpetrator.
Get to know us
MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Jo-Anne Dusel
Jo-Anne Dusel has been the Executive Director of PATHS since 2014. Prior to that, she spent two decades working front line with women survivors of intimate partner violence at Moose Jaw Transition House. She has served as co-chair of the Board of Directors for Women’s Shelters Canada and has participated in other national initiatives, including the Expert Engagement to Address and Prevent Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to help inform the National Action Plan to End GBV.
Crystal Giesbrecht
Crystal Giesbrecht has served as the Director of Research and Communications at PATHS since January 2011. Crystal completed her PhD in Justice Studies at the University of Regina in 2024. She conducts research relating to intimate partner violence and publishes her work in peer-reviewed journals.
Both Jo-Anne and Crystal have served as Expert Advisory Panel members for the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability’s (CFOJA), as panelists for Saskatchewan’s current Domestic Violence Death Review, and sit on the Multi-Sectoral Review Committee for Clare’s Law.