Maya Badham

Background

About Maya Badham

Safeguarding Animal & Human Survivors of Sexual and Domestic Abuse (SAHSDA) is an international organisation dedicated to training, research, and consultancy. SAHSDA focuses on helping professionals, from all sectors, deepen their understanding of the connection between interpersonal abuse and the abuse of animals. We aim to improve responses to the use of companion animals by perpetrators of abuse and address additional issues such as animal sexual abuse. SAHSDA’s mission is to inspire proactive action in safeguarding all survivors of abuse—human and animal alike—emphasising that all victim survivors, regardless of species, deserve protection. We believe that animals must be included in a truly whole family, multi-agency, and coordinated community response to domestic abuse. – Maya is a specialist in domestic abuse, sexual violence, and trauma informed practice, with subject matter expertise on the use of companion animals as a tactic of coercive control. With over a decade of experience in the field, she holds a Master’s in Human Rights Law and has six years’ plus experience working in a variety of frontline advocacy and support roles. She has worked with female, male, and LGBTQ+ survivors of sexual and domestic abuse aged over 13. She utilises a trauma informed, person centered, intersectional and anti-oppressive approach to support. Maya is a qualified Trainer (Level 4 Certificate in Training & Education), with over 5 years’ experience delivering training to statutory and voluntary organisations on a variety of subjects relating to Domestic and sexual Abuse. She previously served on the College of Policing’s Domestic Abuse Matters editorial board and project managed development of the Level 4 Diploma in Advocacy and Support Skills for Working with Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Survivors, as well as the first OFQUAL-regulated qualification in Safeguarding for Pet Professionals. Maya has completed a variety of courses in animal behaviour, applied ethology, and dog body language since 2019 and explores how applying trauma informed principles can help dogs recover from emotional trauma. Maya uses her knowledge and experience in animal behaviour and wellbeing to inform her work with SAHSDA. Maya's original work includes the Compliance to Partnership Planet for Living with Dogs (2022) and the Dog Abuse Matrix (2024). Website: Email: mayabadham@sahsda.org *Opinions expressed here are my own*