Introduction
After experiencing abuse, many survivors often struggle with feelings of being broken, unworthy, and isolated. These emotions can be incredibly overwhelming, leading individuals to believe that healing is an impossible or distant goal. The weight of these feelings can make it hard to see a path forward and may cause survivors to feel disconnected from their sense of self or their worth. However, these negative emotions don’t define who they are, and recovery is not only possible, but achievable.
Self-compassion offers a gentle, yet profoundly transformative approach to healing. It allows survivors to begin the journey of self-acceptance by learning to treat themselves with kindness, patience, and understanding — qualities often withheld from themselves in the aftermath of abuse. Instead of focusing on self-blame or shame, self-compassion teaches the importance of embracing one’s own humanity, imperfections, and past experiences with unconditional care. This process can help shift the internal narrative from one of self-criticism to one of self-love and forgiveness.
The Women’s Self-Compassion Group is a safe, supportive space where survivors can learn how to cultivate these essential self-compassion skills. Through this group, participants are encouraged to embrace themselves fully, without judgment, and to recognize their inherent worth and strength. Here, survivors will find a community of like-minded individuals who are committed to personal growth and healing, allowing them to share their stories and connect with others who truly understand their experiences.
This group offers more than just support; it offers a pathway to recovery and empowerment. By embracing self-compassion, survivors can begin to rebuild their sense of self and regain control over their lives. In a nurturing environment, they can take the first steps toward healing, reclaiming their confidence, and building a future filled with hope, strength, and self-love.
Understanding Self-Compassion
The self-compassion movement, pioneered by Dr. Kristin Neff, is all about treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a close friend. It encourages individuals to embrace their imperfections, quiet their harsh inner critic, and nurture a gentler, more supportive inner voice, promoting emotional resilience and inner peace.
Self-compassion isn't about handling yourself with excessive care, avoiding hard emotions, or forcing a mindset of toxic positivity. It's about acknowledging what you've been through, moving through those feelings with kindness, and staying grounded in who you truly are.
Research has shown that self-compassion can have numerous benefits for survivors of abuse, including:
Reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety: Self-compassion alleviates emotional distress by reducing self-criticism and promoting soothing, kind responses to suffering
Rebuilding positive self-worth: Self-compassion encourages survivors to treat themselves with kindness, countering shame and self-blame, and fostering a healthier sense of self
Enhancing resilience: Self-compassion can help survivors by viewing struggles as part of the human experience, promoting emotional resilience and recovery from setbacks
Fostering healthy relationships: Self-compassion supports the development of healthier relationships by encouraging self-awareness of needs and boundaries, and improving empathy and communication
Empowering survivors: Self-compassion restores a sense of control and autonomy, empowering survivors to take meaningful steps toward healing and well-being.
The Role of a Therapy Group
The Women’s Self-Compassion Group offers a safe and supportive space to explore and heal from the impact of past abuse. Led by trained mental health professionals, the group will provide tools and techniques to cultivate self-compassion, challenge self-critical thoughts, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Through shared experiences and group support, members will learn to process trauma, build resilience, and foster a greater sense of self-worth and well-being.
Group members will be encouraged to share their stories, emotions, and challenges in a non-judgmental environment, receiving support and encouragement from their peers.
A therapy group differs from a traditional support group by offering a more structured and in-depth approach to healing. By focusing on specific therapeutic techniques and individual growth, members will gain valuable tools to process trauma, build resilience, and cultivate self-compassion.
By joining the Women’s Self-Compassion Group, survivors of abuse can:
Find support and understanding: Connect with a compassionate community of individuals who share similar experiences. The group provides a safe space where survivors of abuse can find understanding and empathy, knowing that they are not alone in their journey. This shared experience creates an environment where participants can freely express themselves without fear of judgment, knowing they are surrounded by people who truly understand their struggles and emotions.
Take ownership of their stories: In a nurturing and non-judgmental space, survivors are encouraged to reclaim their narratives and recognize the strength that has emerged from their past experiences. By embracing their full stories, survivors can begin to heal from trauma and empower themselves. The process of acknowledging and accepting all aspects of their journey is vital in helping them regain control and move forward in a positive direction.
Learn self-compassion techniques: Practical self-compassion tools are taught to help survivors nurture kindness and forgiveness towards themselves. Participants will gain valuable techniques to break the cycle of self-blame and negative self-talk, replacing it with self-love, patience, and understanding. These methods, such as mindfulness exercises and affirmations, are designed to cultivate a healthy inner dialogue and promote emotional resilience in the face of past trauma.
Gain hope and healing: Through engaging with the group, women will discover powerful pathways to healing and emotional growth. With the support of trained facilitators and fellow survivors, they will explore evidence-based strategies for overcoming the emotional and psychological effects of abuse. This hope-filled environment encourages women to envision a future where they can thrive, free from the burdens of their past experiences.
Build a supportive community: Joining the Women’s Self-Compassion Group offers the opportunity to form lasting relationships with others who are also committed to personal growth and recovery. These supportive connections foster a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation, enabling women to build meaningful friendships that extend beyond the group. The camaraderie and encouragement from others who understand their struggles create a sense of empowerment that fuels continued progress and healing.
Group Activities and Discussions
The support group will utilize a variety of activities and discussions to facilitate the development of self-compassion. These may include:
Sharing stories: Members will have the opportunity to share their personal experiences of abuse and how it has shaped their lives. This safe space allows individuals to express their emotions and narratives without judgment, helping them process their feelings and gain validation. Listening to others' stories also helps build empathy and solidarity among group members, reinforcing the understanding that they are not alone in their journey.
Discussing self-compassion techniques: The Women’s Self-Compassion Group will delve into a variety of self-compassion practices, such as mindfulness, meditation, and self-kindness exercises. These techniques are aimed at helping survivors replace self-criticism with compassion and forgiveness. By practicing mindfulness and learning to treat themselves with gentleness, participants can develop a healthier relationship with themselves and create space for healing and emotional resilience.
Group exercises: The group will engage in exercises that promote connection, empathy, and self-acceptance. Activities such as guided reflection, journaling prompts, and role-playing scenarios may be used to help participants connect with their inner strength and begin to cultivate self-love. These exercises not only facilitate personal growth but also help create a sense of camaraderie and support, as group members work together to overcome shared challenges and celebrate victories, both big and small
Eligibility and Commitment
The Women’s Self-Compassion Group is open to people who identify as women who have survived any type of abuse, including physical, emotional, sexual, and psychological abuse. Participants are expected to commit to attending regularly and participating actively in group discussions and activities. See below for more information regarding the criteria and expectations for group members.
Additional Information
Confidentiality: Everything shared within the group will be held in strict confidence by the therapists. Respect for confidentiality is a fundamental principle upheld by all members of the group.
Group size: The group is limited to a maximum of [8-10] participants to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all members.
Criteria for Group Members
To ensure a positive and productive group experience for the Women’s Self Compassion Group, the following criteria will be considered for potential members:
Currently in individual therapy: Participants need to already be engaged in recovery work and have an individual therapist to assist them in processing the group experience from the Women’s Self-Compassion Group.
Commitment to attendance: Participants are expected to commit to regularly attending group sessions and participating actively in group discussions. Members of the group will be charged the fee for the session weekly, regardless of their attendance. Members attendance is a critical component to successful group work.
Willingness to share: Members should be open to sharing their experiences and feelings in a safe and supportive environment.
Respect for others: Participants should be respectful of other members and their experiences. Therapy groups are often composed of people from different walks of life even if there is an overarching theme.
Openness to feedback: Members of the Women’s Self-Compassion Group should be willing to receive feedback from others and learn from their experiences. Feedback from other members is a highly beneficial aspect to group therapy and is encouraged.
Ability to handle difficult emotions: Participants should be able to manage their own emotions and be supportive of others who may be experiencing emotional distress.
Ability to complete the homework assignments: Every week there will be a homework assignment given that will help deepen the experience of group therapy and reinforce what was learned in the group that week. Participants of the Women’s Self-Compassion Group will be heavily encouraged to complete the homework assignments between sessions.
Willingness to explore the self: Many activities for the Women’s Self-Compassion Group are aimed at self exploration and self discovery. Meditation exercises will be used, sharing feelings with others, and creative movement work will be used in the group.
If you are interested in joining the Women’s Self-Compassion Group or would like to learn more, please contact: Jessica (267.428.2612) or Ashlyn (267.578.3591)
Women’s Self-Compassion Group For Survivors Of Abuse
Survivors of Abuse Therapy Group:
Details
Meeting Time: Every Tuesday at 7pm
Meeting Length: 1.5 hours, 6-week session
Meeting Dates: Starting February
Meeting Location: Virtually through Google Meet
Registration Fee: $25
Fee per session: $50
Total Fee: $325
