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CATHARSIS IS PROUD TO HAVE PARTNERED WITH EVERY BRANCH OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY!

Military

Sexual violence prevention is a mission readiness issue. Over the last decade, few topics have received more attention in the United States military than sexual violence. Whether it’s a film documentary, a Department of Defense annual report, or simply another news article, preventing sexual harassment and assault is on everyone’s agenda.

Past Performance
members of the military after military sexual assault prevention

Our Approach

Catharsis Productions specializes in meeting today’s service members where they are and taking them to where they need to be, while helping them understand that sexual violence is not wrong because it is illegal, it is illegal because it is wrong.

  • We produce innovative, accessible, and research-supported programming that shifts behavior and delivers results.

  • Since 2000, we have developed and delivered live and web-based prevention education programming for military audiences, conducting over 11,200 trainings for Department of Defense personnel, reaching an estimated 2.2 million service members.

  • Part of our overall approach centers around mission readiness. Any training effort in any subject must speak to the “why” behind it, helping service members understand how it supports their mission and the values they espouse.

  • Catharsis taps into military values, framing core issues of consent, communication, and intervention as components of these values and prerequisites to trust and function as a teammate with your fellow Soldier, Airman, Sailor, or Marine.

Trusted by organizations and institutions across the country

  • US Forest Service
  • Farm Service Agency,
  • US Fish and Wildlife
  • Illinois General Assembly
  • US Air Force
  • State of New Mexico

Our Content

We offer a variety of programming options, able to be conducted virtually or in-person, intentionally scaffolded to meet each service member where they are in their career and help arm them with the tools needed to improve their Command Climate and overall culture. We also have general Government trainings regarding harassment and discrimination that can be customized to military populations.

  • New Service Member

    Sex Signals

    Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention for the New Service Member

    Learn More
  • Experienced Service Member

    Got Your Back

    Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention for the Experienced Service Member

    Learn More
  • Transfer Capacity

    Force of Awesome Institute

    The Force of Awesome Institute takes prevention educators from good to great

    Learn More
  • Service Member in Leadership

    Beat the Blame Game

    Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention for Service Members in Leadership

    Learn More

We possess significant expertise in the content knowledge and the delivery methodology necessary to produce and implement innovative prevention education that successfully engages diverse audiences on the topics of discrimination, harassment, and violence. Regardless of format or content, we rely heavily on several key components within all our efforts:

  • Audience Interaction

    Engages attendees and makes them part of learning process

  • Research Informed and Supported

    Remain constantly up to date on findings in relevant fields and regularly evaluate programs

  • Subject Matter Expertise

    Instructors and developers are thoroughly trained and can speak to the issue outside of a script

  • Facilitated Dialogue

    Peer to peer learning is most impactful

  • Humor and Accessibility

    Breaks down barriers and defensiveness

  • Comprehensive and Aligned Messaging

    Messages only work if they are reinforced by other programs, materials, and surrounding efforts

  • Efficacy

    Consistently survey, research, and consult with third-party researchers to maintain awareness of program impact and adjust when needed

These mechanisms function to create the most impactful curriculum possible and separate the Catharsis Productions approach from others in the field. In fact, Catharsis programs at Great Lakes Naval Station near Chicago have contributed to anonymous reports of completed or attempted sexual assault dropping more than 60% (New York Times, July 2013). Sailors there consistently demonstrate significant improvements in their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding sexual violence and bystander behavior after participating in prevention programming. Additionally, in the U.S. Army, Catharsis training was determined to be “the only class during the first several weeks of training that trainees can recall with any detail by the end of the training cycle (Small Wars Journal, October 2014).”

TRADOC’s Sex Signals class which uses an interactive format, comedy, and talented improvisation actors to teach appropriate social behavior is routinely the only class during the first several weeks of training that trainees can recall with any detail by the end of the training cycle.

—Small Wars Journal

Hiring external vendors to address complex social issues comes with a myriad of risks to the government. By partnering with Catharsis Productions, every branch can rest assured knowing they are collaborating with an industry leader who is unsurpassed in terms of past performance, quality, bandwidth, methodology, and audience impact. Please review our performance history to get a sense of our capabilities. We are also proud to be a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract holder, offering high-quality training to federal, state, and local government agencies at competitive prices. Our GSA contract streamlines the procurement process, ensuring easy access to our solutions through the GSA Advantage!® platform. Learn more about our offerings and view our GSA contract by visiting here.

  • 87%

    Forest Service employees said “the training content was pertinent and useful

  • 89%

    of Basic Training Soldiers said they are more likely to intervene in potentially bad situations after having seen the presentation

  • 89%

    of USDA employees said they would "be able to apply the knowledge learned" in the training

  • TRADOC’s Sex Signals class which uses an interactive format, comedy, and talented improvisation actors to teach appropriate social behavior is routinely the only class during the first several weeks of training that trainees can recall with any detail by the end of the training cycle.

    —Small Wars Journal

  • Since the initiative began in early 2011, reports here of serious sexual assaults, defined as nonconsensual penetration, or the attempt at it, have dropped more than 60 percent.

    —New York Times

  • "The skits are real and they are educational; it gives the Soldiers an opportunity to identify SHARP [Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program] related issues."

    —SFC Valorie Pasley, Area I SARC, US Army

  • “I thought the training opened some eyes and broke down some barriers so we could start talking about sexual assault more openly.”

    —Tina Presley, AMCOM HR Specialist, US Army

Training & Programs

Beat the Blame Game (Military)

Live In-Person

Live Remote

Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention for Service Members in Leadership.

Got Your Back

Live In-Person

Live Remote

This research based program is designed to dismantle the false belief that rape is really just a bad hook-up, as well as differentiate between healthy intimacy and sexual violence.

Sex Signals (Military)

Live In-Person

Live Remote

Sex Signals has become one of the most popular and respected sexual assault awareness programs on military installations through its unorthodox, humor-facilitated approach to examining sex, culture, and the core issue of bystander intervention.

Force of Awesome Institute – Military

Live In-Person

Live Remote

The Force of Awesome Institute takes prevention educators from good to great
  • Testimonials
    Got Your Back

    “It was engaging, real, raw, and exactly what Army leaders of today need for a SHARP training, instead of just a black and white PowerPoint throwing us a list of rules and regulations. This training really just hit home that this topic effects real people, real Soldiers, and we can have a real impact. 10/10 across the board. Thank you.”

  • Testimonials
    Sex Signals

    “I loved the trainers - their level of enthusiasm and engagement set a positive tone from the start and they maintained it throughout what is a sensitive subject for many. I wish all of our trainings were this good. Their level of knowledge of both the topic and the FS was high so they seemed to connect well with the audience and helped to gently correct some of our statements without turning off the people who were learning through this training.”

  • Testimonials
    Got Your Back

    “It was engaging, real, raw, and exactly what Army leaders of today need for a SHARP training, instead of just a black and white PowerPoint throwing us a list of rules and regulations. This training really just hit home that this topic effects real people, real Soldiers, and we can have a real impact. 10/10 across the board. Thank you.”

  • Testimonials
    Got Your Back

    "Sailors at Training Support Center Great Lakes demonstrated significant improvements in their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors regarding sexual assault and bystander behavior following their participation in Sex Signals and Got Your Back.”

  • Testimonials
    Sex Signals Military

    “I thought this was a really great presentation and it brings a little more life and fun into our BCT, and the interaction helped keep people awake. I feel like it’s a duty to intervene especially when the person isn’t able to themselves. I loved the class.”

  • Testimonials
    Sex Signals - Military

    94% of new Soldiers said SEX SIGNALS accurately reflected the unique challenges faced by them with regard to sexual assault.

  • Testimonials
Get in Touch

Ready to put ethics into action?

Contact us to learn more about our military and government program offerings.