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| plenary Panel 2 |
Saturday, Oct. 16, 3:00-5:15pm |
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Sapphire
Poet & Performance Poet
Author of teh Bestselling Novel PUSH - the inspiration for the Academy Award winning film
Precious |
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"Precious”: Raising Societal Consciousness about Abuse
“Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire” is a brutal and uncomfortably compelling film about an African-American female who is sexually abused by her father, and emotionally, physically, and sexually abused by her mother. ISSTD, in conjunction with Clark Atlanta University, is pleased to have the author of the book Push join this ISSTD panel.
Clinicians report that watching this movie forced a new understanding upon them. The film displays posttraumatic and dissociative symptoms, the mother’s breath-taking narcissism, and how encouragement from others can improve an abuse victim’s self esteem. Panelists will discuss the film’s prominent themes, its portrayal of abuse-related symptoms, and its place in our culture today. The film will be presented on Friday evening at 7:00pm for the convenience of conference attendees.
| Non conference attendees may purchase general admission tickets to attend this presentation. General Admission price: $50. |
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SESSION ABSTRACT:
The movie, Precious, was released in theaters in 2009 and won two Academy Awards. Based on the novel Push
by Sapphire, Precious is a story about an illiterate African-
American female who is abused by both of her parents.
Clinicians who treat survivors of childhood trauma routinely
hear abuse-related stories. But it is another thing entirely
to actually SEE that abuse. Clinicians report that this movie
forced a new understanding upon them - what it is really
like to be abused every day by your own mother. This movie
has the power to change society’s view of child abuse. It
can also teach clinicians about abusive family dynamics,
the consequences of child abuse, and factors that can
increase resilience. The film displays the emergence of
PTSD and dissociative symptoms in response to chronic
abuse, the role of narcissism in the mother’s view of her
abused daughter, and the role that encouragement plays
in improving the self esteem of survivors. In this plenary, a panel
of experts will discuss the films themes, the abuse related
symptoms that the movie portrays, and the place
that this book and film occupies in our culture today.
Participants will be able to:
♦♦ recognize post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms
that emerge as a result of chronic intra-familial abuse.
♦♦ express the importance of the film “Precious”
in progressing society’s understanding of
child abuse and its consequences.
♦♦ identify specific strategies for increasing the
resilience of survivors of child abuse.
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Panel Presenters
Panel Chair:
Tara L. Williams, PhD
Highland Psychological Services, Atlanta, GA
Panel Discussants:
Richard A. Chefetz, MD
Washington, DC
Richard Loewenstein, MD
Sheppard Pratt Behavioral Heath Systems,
Baltimore, MD
Joyanna Silberg, PhD
Sheppard Pratt Behavioral Health Systems,
Baltimore, MD
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