Proxy with Yowei Shaw The Incredible Healing Powers of Vicarious Restorative Justice
Jul 24, 2024
In a compelling discussion, Alissa Ackerman, a criminal justice professor and co-founder of Ampersands Restorative Justice, shares her journey from trauma to healing after surviving sexual violence. She introduces the concept of vicarious restorative justice, revealing how proxy conversations can foster healing by connecting survivors with offenders. Alissa recounts her powerful experiences in treatment rooms, highlighting the emotional impact of accountability and authentic connection. She emphasizes how these interactions can rewire trauma responses and encourage profound personal growth.
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From Armor To Trembling In A Treatment Room
- Alissa Ackerman described being a closed-off survivor who agreed to speak to a men's treatment group and felt terrified entering the room.
- After sharing, she noticed the men were more terrified and the encounter began her embodied healing journey.
Screen And Stop When Not Ready
- Screen participants carefully with intake assessing PTSD, triggers, and readiness before any proxy restorative process.
- Pause or stop processes when survivors are highly triggered or harm-doers won't specifically name the act.
Proxy Conversation Ended A Lifelong Medication
- Alissa told the story of a sixty-year-old survivor paired with a former abuser who both cried and found relief.
- The survivor reported stopping lifelong psych meds after the vicarious restorative conversation.
