Regional Domestic Violence Seminar Held at FHU

Freed-Hardeman University’s Department of Behavioral Sciences and Family Studies hosted a regional domestic violence seminar Sept. 22 in Ayers Auditorium. Counselors associated with the Women’s Resource and Rape Assistance Program (WRAP) led the one-day conference for counselors working with victims of domestic violence.

WRAP is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1975. It endeavors to liberate survivors of domestic and/or sexual abuse to help them live more fulfilled lives. WRAP also works with communities to “achieve a violence free society,” according to their website. It provides services to thirteen counties in West Tennessee.

Dr. Mike Cravens, director of Freed-Hardeman’s graduate studies in counseling program and professor of counseling and family studies, organized the event and began the seminar with an introduction of the three speakers. Cravens is a licensed professional counselor and licensed marriage and family therapist. He also has a private counseling practice in Jackson, Tenn.

Margaret Cole, Cinda Gee and Stacey C. Wolfe spoke at the event. Cole is the executive director of WRAP and has a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Memphis. Gee is a domestic violence and crisis counselor for WRAP and has an M.S. in professional counseling. Wolfe is a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice that provides mental health survives to trauma survivors.

Of the thirty-five west Tennessee and Mississippi professionals who registered for the conference, most are associated with various behavioral and mental health agencies in the state. In addition, Freed-Hardeman students were invited to attend the workshops.

Cravens said he was thrilled with the seminar results and hopes it becomes the first of many similar opportunities. “The WRAP conference was well attended by a number of West Tennessee mental health professionals and members of the FHU student body. Our department hopes to partner with other Tennessee organizations and agencies to bring professional continuing education to West Tennessee and, more specifically, to the Freed-Hardeman campus,” he said.

For more information on behavioral sciences continuing education programs at Freed-Hardeman or to schedule a learning workshop, please contact the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Family Studies at 731-989-6638.