77

Educating social workers in training on the topic of sexual violence involves addressing the issue of unconscious mechanisms, such as refusal, denial, and a sort of paralysis of thought. Thought is needed, however, in order to carry out any form of action and an evaluation of this action after an intervention. This is because sexual violence touches on the sensitive issue of trauma and, further to the consequences experienced by victims, on the relationship that everyone has with sexuality and its originally traumatic nature—including healthcare professionals, social workers, and those providing day-to-day support. Raising awareness about this demanding and complex subject on training courses thus entails, in addition to its specific features, committing to a more overarching and generalist approach to the various issues faced by professionals in people-focused roles. The importance of training and its contents could therefore supplement the title of this article, which is both a testimony and a reflection.