Feng Chia University Hosts National Workshop on Supporting Students Exposed to Domestic Violence, Building a Compassionate Network of Care

Home is not always a safe haven. For many children who witness domestic violence, the journey of growing up is often marked by silent yet profound emotional scars.

To enhance the ability of university counseling professionals to identify and support students who have witnessed domestic violence, the Central Taiwan University and College Counseling Coordination and Consultation Center commissioned the Counseling Center under the Office of Student Affairs at Feng Chia University to organize the 2026 Professional Development Workshop on Counseling Students Exposed to Domestic Violence on July 27. The event attracted nearly 120 counseling professionals from universities and colleges across northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan to discuss trauma-informed care, recovery support, and cross-system collaboration practices.

This workshop focused on the increasingly important issue of children and young adults exposed to domestic violence while incorporating the Ministry of Education’s actively promoted concept of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Through keynote presentations and professional exchanges, participants were encouraged to adopt trauma-informed perspectives to better understand the often-unseen life experiences behind students’ behaviors.

The workshop also aimed to strengthen campus support systems and enhance counselors’ professional capacity to accompany and assist students facing adversity.

During the opening ceremony, Hui-Wen Chang, Section Chief of the Department of Student Affairs and Special Education under the Ministry of Education, attended the event and offered words of encouragement.

She noted that although domestic violence is a difficult topic, it remains an important issue that cannot be overlooked in campus counseling work. She expressed hope that continuous professional development opportunities would provide frontline counselors with greater support, knowledge, and resilience.

Hui-Kuang Yu, Dean of Student Affairs at Feng Chia University, emphasized that family environments have a profound impact on students’ personality development, mental health, and academic adaptation.

He remarked:“Every student deserves to be understood and supported. Only through a comprehensive counseling approach and cross-unit collaboration can we identify needs early and provide timely assistance, creating a dense and reliable support network that helps students move toward a brighter future.”

Meanwhile, Fei-Chuan Chen, Convener of the Central Taiwan University and College Counseling Coordination and Consultation Center, thanked counseling professionals from across Taiwan for their enthusiastic participation and commitment to professional growth and student well-being.

The workshop featured a keynote presentation by Professor Chiung-Tao Shen, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Social Work at National Taiwan University.

Having devoted many years to research on domestic violence, child protection, and trauma recovery, Professor Shen drew upon extensive research findings and practical experience to guide participants in understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma responses, and the critical role of resilience.

She also shared real-life stories from her years of supporting students, helping participants appreciate the profound responsibility and mission educators carry in safeguarding student well-being.

At the conclusion of her presentation, Professor Shen quoted Canadian poet Leonard Cohen:“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”

She encouraged frontline counselors never to underestimate the possibilities for healing and transformation, even when students carry deep emotional wounds. The understanding, companionship, and support offered by counseling professionals, she noted, often become the very light that illuminates a student’s path forward.

In addition to trauma-informed counseling approaches, frontline educational professionals frequently face challenges related to reporting responsibilities and cross-system cooperation.

To address these issues, the afternoon session featured Shu-Ju Hou, Director of the Taichung City Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Center, who shared practical experiences in interagency collaboration and resource integration.

Drawing upon extensive experience in social welfare services, Director Hou explained cooperative models between educational institutions and social service agencies when supporting students affected by domestic violence. She also provided detailed guidance on practical issues such as repeated reporting, role delineation, and administrative procedures.

During the panel discussion, representatives from the Ministry of Education further responded to questions regarding relevant regulations and practical implementation concerns, helping participants clarify uncertainties encountered in their professional work.

This national workshop not only demonstrated Feng Chia University’s long-standing commitment and expertise in student counseling services, but also highlighted the shared responsibility of higher education institutions to safeguard student well-being.

Moving forward, the University will continue strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and counseling support networks while striving to create a safer, more inclusive, and more resilient campus environment.

Through understanding, support, and compassion, Feng Chia University hopes to help every student discover the light and hope needed for personal growth and recovery.

Feng Chia University hosted the 2026 Professional Development Workshop on Counseling Students Exposed to Domestic Violence. Participants included Hui-Wen Chang, Fei-Chuan Chen, Hui-Kuang Yu, and nearly 120 counseling professionals from universities and colleges throughout Taiwan.