"Members of a cohesive group feel warmth and comfort in the group and a sense of belongingness; they value the group and feel in turn that they are valued, accepted, and supported by other members.” ― Irvin D. Yalom,
SAFE Group Programmes
Each programme is delivered over eight sessions. Sessions are two hours in duration and light refreshments are provided.
Groups are closed, meaning participants are not able to join once the group has begun. Concessions are available and assessed on a case by case basis.
Domestic Violence Recovery Group
This therapy group focuses on the deep-seated emotions that are formed following experiences of domestic violence. Using a combination of therapeutic approaches including psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Transactional Analysis, participants gain the skills and knowledge to understand their relationships and heal from the damage of domestic violence and abuse. Sharing, realising you are not alone, supporting each other to recover from the experiences of domestic violence and abuse, and creating support networks amongst peers are key benefits to the group.
Process Group
In the process group, 5-10 individuals meet face to face to share their struggles and concerns with a therapist. The power of process groups lies in the unique opportunity to receive multiple perspectives, support, encouragement and feedback from other individuals in a safe and confidential environment. The process group is a way to achieve greater understanding of self and others and focuses on dealing with day to day issues rather than seeking to deal with historical events.
Trauma Recovery Group
We have the essential belief that everyone has a right to have a present and future that is not completely dominated and dictated by the past. Those who have experienced traumatic experiences often suffer physical and emotional symptoms as a result.
Traumatic experiences may lead to a condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder, which can affect people in a number of ways. Psychological trauma may overwhelm a person’s thoughts and emotions and lead to a change in the way that individual thinks and behaves. Those who are suffering from unresolved trauma may begin to question their beliefs and develop trust issues, feel disconnected from others and may feel unsafe.
The Trauma Recovery group provides a safe, supportive environment to process and heal from specific trauma. This allows for dissociation from traumatic experiences, which then allows healing from pain and distress.
Individual Therapy
The therapeutic relationship, or helping alliance, refers to the relationship between therapist and client and is as essential to enabling individual change. Only when the therapeutic relationship is grounded in trust, congruence and empathy can healing begin. A skilled helper knows that being allowed to look through a window into another's life is a gift, and one that is never taken for granted. Our therapists and counsellors are specialists in understanding domestic violence and abuse.
We offer a sliding fee scale for counselling sessions ranging from £5 to £40 per hour.
Services for children and young people
We offer 1:1 sessions, provided by expert practitioners with children and young people aged 5–18. Dedicated girls groups and boys groups are also available where appropriate. Therapeutic activity programmes are also available during school holidays, numbers permitting.
DART
Domestic Abuse, Recovering Together (DART) is a group work programme for mothers and children who have experienced domestic abuse. DART provides joint sessions for mothers and children to do activities together that help them talk about their experiences and feelings. This primary focus on relationships between mothers and children is unique to DART.
DART is an accredited NSPCC programme for which SAFE hold a licence to deliver. The cost of running a DART programme is available upon request.