Course curriculum

    1. How to use this course

    2. Pre-Course Survey

    3. Meet Your Instructor

    4. Welcome To The Course

    5. So, What Is Sexual Violence?

    6. Course Outline

    7. About Us: The Dragonfly Centre

    8. Need A Mental Break?

    1. Overview

    2. Understanding Safety & Assessing Danger

    3. How To Talk To Your Loved One About Suicide

    4. How Agencies Can Help

    5. Assignment (Participation Only)

    6. Test your learning

    7. Need A Break?

    1. Overview

    2. Words From A Survivor Of Sexual Violence

    3. Intro and Components of T.A.L.K

    4. Video: How To Support A Friend Who Has Experienced Sexual Violence

    5. Caution: Unsupportive Statements & How to Apologize

    6. Video: The Power Of Words When Responding To Disclosures Of Sexual Violence

    7. Assignment: Victim Blaming Statements

    8. Video: The Added Stigma That Men Face As Survivors

    9. Assignment (Participation only)

    10. Test your learning

    11. Need A Break?

    1. Overview

    2. Impacts of Trauma

    3. Video: Trauma & The Nervous System

    4. Types of Trauma, Triggers & Trauma Responses

    5. Video: Why Survivors Don't Respond The Way Others Might Expect

    6. Grounding Exercises

    7. Grounding Technique: Box Breathing

    8. Grounding Technique: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 or 5 senses

    9. Assignment (Participation Only)

    10. Test your learning

    11. Need A Break?

    1. Overview

    2. Video: Helping Others - Vicarious Trauma Animation

    3. Your Beliefs & Expectations As A Support Person

    4. Emotional Safety As A Support Person

    5. Video: What is Vicarious Trauma Reviewed

    6. Assignment (Participation only)

    7. Test your learning

    8. Need A Break?

    1. Overview

    2. Resilience & Neuroplasticity

    3. Video: Resilience

    4. Supporting Your Loved One To Heal & Healing Activities

    5. Video: Benefits of Yoga for Healing Trauma

    6. Video: "Creating Music Is Therapeutic for Me"

    7. Video: Visual Arts for Healing

    8. Video: Writing As Healing

    9. Video: Indigenous Drumming for Healing

    10. Video: Indigenous Beading for Healing

    11. Types of Counseling That May Be Healing

    12. Assignment (Participation Only)

    13. Test your learning

    14. References/Sources

    15. Need A Break?

About this course

  • Free
  • 64 lessons
  • 1.5 hours of video content
  • For Caregivers & Support Persons

Course Educator

Ashley Lock

Youth Education Coordinator

Ashley Lock is a dedicated professional with nearly a decade of experience in the gender-based violence field. Having worked extensively in rural women’s shelters, Ashley has supported survivors of violence through crisis intervention, safety planning, and advocacy. Now, as the Youth Education Coordinator at the Dragonfly Centre, she has shifted her focus to education, believing it to be a powerful tool for creating safer, more informed communities.

Ashley’s work is driven by her deep awareness of the profound impact sexual violence has on individuals, families, and communities. As a Mother and auntie, she is passionate about fostering a safer world for her daughter, nephews, and future generations. Through Dragonfly Centre’s preventative education initiatives, Ashley empowers youth and caregivers with the tools and knowledge needed to stand up against violence, fostering a culture of consent and mutual respect. Ashley collaborates with community members and professionals to deliver impactful training in rural and remote areas, ensuring equitable access to education and resources. She is particularly passionate about working with youth, tailoring presentations to be relatable and engaging while addressing essential topics like consent, healthy relationships, and digital safety.

Ashley is passionate about embracing difficult but necessary conversations, challenging harmful societal norms like coercion, victim-blaming, and disrespecting consent. She views these moments as opportunities to spark lasting change, not only for individuals but for families and communities as a whole. Ashley’s ultimate hope is to create a future free from sexual violence by equipping individuals with the tools to recognize, respond, and prevent harm. Through collaboration and community-driven education, she is helping to lay the foundation for a brighter, more resilient future for all.

“This course was exactly what I needed. When my loved one shared their experience with me, I wanted to support them in every way possible, but I didn’t always know the right words to say or how to help without overstepping. Even though it was online it felt personal. I learned how to truly listen, respect their healing process, and take care of my own emotions along the way. I recommend it to any caregiver navigating this.”

Caregiver

“When my family member first told me about their experience, I didn’t respond the way I wish I had. I wanted to help, but I asked the wrong questions and said things that, without realizing it, made them feel worse. Taking this course helped me understand why my initial reaction wasn’t as supportive as I intended and gave me the tools to show up for them in a way that truly helps.”

Family Member

“When my sibling first shared their experience with me, I wanted to support them, but I didn’t fully understand the impact of trauma. I could see they were struggling, but I didn’t always recognize the signs or know how to help. This [course] opened my eyes to the ways trauma can show up and how I can be there for them in meaningful ways. I’m so grateful for this [course] and the knowledge it gave me to show up with more patience, understanding, and hope.”

Sibling

“I took this course to support a close friend, but I didn’t expect it to help me too. Hearing their experience brought back memories I thought I had dealt with years ago. I learned that I can reach out for support through Dragonfly [Centre], too, something I didn’t know before. This course gave me the tools to be there for my friend and to begin my own healing”

Friend