DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRAINING
Enhancing Response, Improving Outcomes
Deepening understanding of domestic violence and interpersonal abuse to strengthen interventions, investigations, and victim support.
Cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, and abuse are often complex, nuanced, and shaped by dynamics that aren’t always visible. These factors impact how cases are interpreted, investigated, and prosecuted – and a victim’s experience in the aftermath of harm.
Ashley Bendiksen brings lived survivor experience plus a professional background in the criminal justice system, holding a degree in Administration of Justice and vast experience across courtroom and campus victim advocacy, high-profile case support, policy development, and crisis response.
Her work equips law enforcement, victim advocates, and prosecution teams with deeper insight, along with practical strategies to strengthen response, support victims effectively, and improve case outcomes.
Trusted by agencies, departments, and organizations nationwide
Who Ashley Supports
- Law Enforcement
- First Responders
- Victim Advocates
- Prosecutors and Legal Teams
- Domestic Violence Units
- Campus Safety and Security
- Military and Defense Personnel
Recognizing Abuse
Identify behaviors and indicators that shape victim interaction and case progression.
Understanding Victims
Understand how trauma and coercion influence communication, engagement, and decision-making.
Supporting Survivors
Strengthen advocacy and empower survivors with effective trauma-informed practices.
Improving Outcomes
Apply practical strategies to improve investigations and prosecutorial effectiveness.
Speaking Topics and Training Areas
Speaking engagements are tailored to the needs of each organization, blending lived experience with an advanced focus on real-world strategies and practical application.
Dynamics of Abuse, Coercive Control, and Trauma
Exploring how power, control, domestic violence, and trauma shape behavior, disclosure, reporting, testimony, participation, and help-seeking.
Trauma-Informed Practice and Victim Engagement
Applying trauma-informed approaches to interactions, investigations, decision-making, case handling, and resource provision.
Advocacy and Tools to Empower Survivors
Research-backed strategies to effectively support trauma and abuse survivors — building trust, fostering empathy and dignity, and restoring agency.
Investigations and Case Considerations
From on-scene response to prosecution, explore strategies to mitigate safety risks, ensure accurate fact-finding, build trust, improve engagement, and strengthen coordination across teams to improve case outcomes..
Advocates and responders play a critical role. The work is necessary - and powerful. With the right skills, harm can be addressed, and survivors can heal, rebuild, and restore what's been lost.
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Grounded in practical application and real-world experience — catered to your goals.
Request speaking rates & availability, or schedule a call
No obligation, no pressure - ever.
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Select Highlights from Ashley's Work
FIELD EXPERIENCE
- Office of the District Attorney – Executive Assistant and Press Assistant
- District Court Victim Witness Advocate
- Juvenile Court Victim Witness Advocate
- Campus Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Victim Advocate
- Sexual Assault Prevention Military Trainer
- Bystander Intervention Trainer for College Athletes
- Lobbyist for Domestic Violence and Victims Rights Legislation
- Community Education and Outreach Coordinator and Trainer
- Office of the Attorney General – Superior Court Domestic Violence/Homicide Paralegal Intern
EDUCATION & TRAINING
- Valedictorian, Salve Regina University, B.A. in Administration of Justice
- Massachusetts Victim Assistance Academy
- Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance Continuing Education
- Trained Rape Crises and Domestic Violence Responder
- Extensive training across trauma-informed care, childhood trauma and ACEs, crisis response, and trauma resilience
- Certified Facilitator, Safe Dates: A Teen Dating Violence Prevention Curriculum
- Trained in Green Dot and Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) bystander prevention
- Certified Trauma and Resilience Specialist in Education (CTRS-E)
LEADERSHIP
- Rhode Island Ambassador to the National Organization for Victim Advocacy (NOVA) – Present
- Frequent press contributor, including this exclusive PBS feature and Crime Junkie Podcast
- Board of Directors and Development Director, Women’s Resource Center (DV Agency)
- Founder, Blue Hearts Project – a global storytelling platform for survivors
- Testimony, MA Bill Mandating Employment Protections For Victims of Abuse
- Conference Speaker – NOVA (National Organization for Victim Advocacy), CESE (National Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation)
- White Ribbon Campaign Co-organizer, including with the Boston Celtics
- Survivor in 8x Award-Winning Documentary, Notoriety Network’s #SHEROProject
- Military and Securities Training Partner, Difference Makers #10Strong
- Task force member and primary chairperson for countless prevention initiatives
Ashley Bendiksen, Domestic Violence Training, Survivor, Expert Speaker