Group Work
Our Group Work Service is here for people that have experienced sexual violence and would like to connect with others. We create safe, supportive, non-judgemental spaces to grow peer-support.
Joining a group can increase feelings of connection and understanding. Being part of a group can also help to process experiences of sexual violence.
Our groups are not therapy and we do not discuss sexual violence incidents in details. If you chose to join one of our groups, you will also be supported by our Group Worker on a one-to-one basis.
This service is available in women-only and trans-inclusive spaces.
Who can join our groups?
Our groups are for those who are aged 16 and over. All of our services are for people who live, work or study in Northumberland or Tyne & Wear (Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside or Sunderland).
Unless a group is specifically advertised as single-sex, our groups are inclusive of women, trans women and non-binary and inter-sex people who feel a women’s space is right for them.
What groups do we offer?
We offer a range of groups and you can attend as many of our groups as you feel is helpful.
Our groups offer different creative methods to support your well-being. Below is more information on the types of groups we are currently running.
How to join a group
You can refer yourself into our services, or someone else can refer you with your permission.
Before joining a group, we will invite you to a one-to-one meeting to talk about the content of the group and discuss your needs and expectations.
To make a referral you can contact us or use our Online Referral Form, see the links below for more information.
If have any questions check out our Frequently Asked Questions page or you are welcome to contact us.
Peer Support Core Group
Number of Sessions: 8
This group is a space for people to reflect on how they are and come together to discuss issues that may be impacting their well-being.
We have discussions around topics like, mental health, relationships, disclosures, triggers and physical health. We provide information on topics like, our rights, myths about sexual violence and the brain’s response to trauma.
In this group we use a mixture of creative methods for well-being and emotional expression, such as art, creative writing, mindfulness and movement.
Trauma Informed Mindfulness Group
Number of Sessions: 6
We worked alongside a group of survivors of sexual violence and Mindful Therapies to develop a specialist trauma-informed mindfulness course. If you chose to join this group, you will be supported to build a mindfulness practice to support your ongoing well-being.
Mindfulness is a form of self-care. It can gently support you to appreciate your senses. It is about experiencing the present moment in time at its fullest. It can give you a “brain-break” from challenging thoughts and feelings and/or processing difficult experiences.
We use Mindfulness to support people who have experienced sexual violence in common areas of challenge. These include self-compassion, challenging critical self-talk, self-care after flashbacks or panic attacks, responding to overwhelming emotions & body-mind connectedness.
Online Self-Care Group
Number of Sessions: 4
This group has been designed for survivors who may find some peer support helpful but have barriers to this, such as limited availability, anxiety, agoraphobia or chronic health/pain.
Together we will explore the concept of self-compassion, noticing, acknowledging or challenging our harsh inner-critic, checking in with how we are, and boundaries as self-care.
There will be some creative activities such as mindfulness, writing and art. You are not expected to share any of your creative work.
Somatic Movement Group
Number of Sessions: 4
In this group we use movement to support with well-being. In each session we provide helpful information on relevant topics, including body awareness, body safety, our nervous systems and our “window of tolerance”.
In this group we will do at least 1 hour of movement each session. As with all of our other groups the way you participate in the group is self-led and movement can be adapted or opted out of at any time.
It is common for our clients to experience pain, fatigue and chronic health difficulties. We want you to know that this group can still be for you if you experience these things, this group is there to support all abilities.
ABC of CSA Group: A creative group for people who have experienced sexual violence in childhood
Number of Sessions: 4
This group is open to people that have experienced any form of sexual violence within their childhood (when they were under 18 years).
The group is a working creatively with trauma group. Together we will look at a resource called “ABC of CSA”. CSA stands for Child Sexual Abuse.
The “ABC of CSA” is a deck of cards created by people who have experienced sexual violence in childhood. The cards are a tool to support people to have supportive conversations as well as to process and express emotions around this violence.
Within our group each participant will be supported to create their own resource.
Monthly Workshop Space
Group Frequency: Once a Month
Our Monthly Workshop Spaces are open to people after they have either completed any of our weekly groups or counselling with us. These sessions include peer support and themed well-being activities. We always start with a “Check-In”, this is a space to share what is on your mind our what you feel would be supportive to you in the moment. This can be challenges as well as steps forwards, accomplishments, positive events or experiences.
Our group is not a place to “fix problems” but group members are encouraged to reply and connect to one another.
Each session will also have a well-being activity to encourage self-care and connection. These activities include arts, crafts, mindfulness, movement and creative writing.
These sessions are bookable, and you can attend as many or as few as you want.
How to join a group
You can refer yourself into our services, or someone else can refer you with your permission.
Before joining a group, we will invite you to a one-to-one meeting to talk about the content of the group and discuss your needs and expectations.
To make a referral you can contact us or use our Online Referral Form, see the links below for more information.
If have any questions check out our Frequently Asked Questions page or you are welcome to contact us.
