20th Annual Interpersonal Violence Conference

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month—and this year we will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Inter-Personal Violence (IPV) Conference, a cornerstone of our work to prevent violence and promote healing in our community.

Join us for sessions that address critical issues such as domestic and sexual violence, child abuse, trauma, mental health, victims’ rights, and the legal and investigative process from start to finish.

CE has been applied for: Nurses, Social Workers, Counselors/Therapists, Law Enforcement Officers, Judges, Attorneys, and VSPs.

Lunch is included in your registration and will be Midway BBQ Catering.

In Partnership with:

• Access Health
• Children’s Advocacy Center of Spartanburg, Cherokee, & Union
• City of Spartanburg Police Department
• First Baptist North Spartanburg
• Project R.E.S.T.
• 7th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office
• South Carolina Legal Services
• South Carolina Victim Assistance Network-Legal Services Program
• Spartanburg County Department of Social Services
• Spartanburg County School District 3
• Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office
• Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Corporate Education

Info: Elizabeth Pratt, M.Div., Ed.S., LMFT, LMFT-S, VSP; VP of Clinical and Trauma-Informed Services at Project R.E.S.T.
This workshop will present and analyze case examples of ethical decision-making in the practice of psychotherapy with survivors of IPV in a variety of settings and situations.

Info: Jonathan Kurland, Attorney Advisor, AEquitas.
The difference between competency to testify and capacity to consent or enter
into legal agreements is often confused during elder abuse investigations and
prosecutions. This session will explore what each of those terms mean in a legal
context and strategies on how to educate fact-finders on the differences.

Info: Tabby Brickley, OTR/L, CBIS, CDP. Occupational Therapist. Occupational Therapy Clinical Coordinator. Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.
An overview of the intersection of TBI and IPV including what is a brain injury,
who is affected, etiology, signs/symptoms, and how to provide support.

Info: Lisa Pirwitz, LMSW. Research by Friedrich, Davis, et.al. (2003) has shown that Interpersonal Violence is a leading cause of childhood Problematic Sexual Behavior (PSB) due to the
modeling of coercion. This presentation will explore the correlation, define PSB, describe effective treatment, and provide further resources.

Info: Jonathan Kurland, Attorney Advisor, AEquitas . Trauma-informed investigation and prosecution is often the aspirational ideal of criminal justice stakeholders. This session will explore what trauma is and possible impacts from it; how to apply an understanding of trauma to adapt to victims and survivors impacted by trauma; and how to apply baseline trauma-informed strategies.

Info: Tammy Fullwood, LBSW. SC Domestic Violence Coordinator II, SC Family Violence Prevention Service Act (FVPSA) State Administrator, SC Department of Social Services. Russell Rich, MA. Director of Community Relations for Adult Advocacy, SC Department of Social Services. The presentation will highlight how DSS provides support services and fosters collaborative efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of families and individuals experiencing domestic abuse. Attendees will learn about the vital resources and partnerships that help protect and empower those affected.

Info: Sarah E. Wright, Psy.D., CST/S. Licensed Psychologist, Certified Sex Therapist/Supervisor.
This talk will briefly review the impact of trauma on the brain and how this relates to sexuality and sexual engagement. Specific techniques will be discussed to help those who have been impacted by unwanted events reclaim their sexuality and engage their sexual selves in ways that feel both safe and pleasurable.

Info: Natalie Ivey, JD; Training and Criminal Justice Specialist. Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC). Stalkers are creative criminals who use – and misuse – a variety of technologies to locate, surveil and monitor their victims. This session will address common
technologies utilized by stalkers, discuss evidence preservation concerns, and
identify effective safety-planning strategies.

Info: Jennifer Corben, MS. Director of Crisis Services. Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center. Ebony Gaffney, M.D., Executive & Medical Director. Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center. Behavioral and physical signs that your child could be misusing medications or using drugs or drinking alcohol. Knowing the signs and symptoms of teen drug use can help you better understand if or when you should consider a teen drug intervention program.

Info: Jonathan Kurland, Attorney Advisor; AEquitas. Natalie Ivey, JD; Training and Criminal Justice Specialist; Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center (SPARC).
This session will explore various forms of image exploitation and how Gavin’s Law and other statutes can be applied to prosecute such abuse.

Info: Mary-Fran R. Crosswell, MD. Co-Medical Director, Child Abuse Pediatrics. Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Upstate. This presentation will provide an overview of the medical evaluation for children when abuse is suspected, emphasizing the role of the healthcare professional within a multidisciplinary response. Attendees will gain insight into how the presence or absence of medical findings is interpreted, how evaluations support both the child’s health and the investigative process, and why a trauma-informed, child-centered approach is essential.

Info: Wendy Regoeczi, Professor, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of South Carolina. Hannah Sedlacek, Doctoral Student, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of South Carolina. The results of a 2025 survey of law enforcement officers in South Carolina will be presented. The survey asks officers about their perceptions and knowledge of cases involving intimate partner violence in general as well as incidents involving
non-fatal strangulation more specifically.

Info: Tricia Ravenhorst, General Counsel, SC Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault.
Victim advocates can sometimes seem uncooperative—but is it resistance or legal responsibility? This session explores the legal and ethical framework that governs victim advocate confidentiality and mandated reporting. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the boundaries advocates must navigate, applicable confidentiality rules and mandated reporting laws, and how to build better partnerships between advocates and other professionals—without stepping on legal landmines.

Host or Publisher Project R.E.S.T.