Steps to Healing Programme
The Steps to Healing Programme is a self-help group healing programme for people who have suffered from trauma. Participants share their experiences in a small, confidential and supportive setting, with people who have also suffered traumatic experiences.
Facilitators of the programme have also been through the Steps to Healing Programme, this helps to create greater trust and understanding between facilitators and participants. Only those who have personal experience of trauma may facilitate and they demonstrate the process.
Each programme comprises of up to 6 participants with 2-3 facilitators. The focus is on sharing the experience of trauma within the group, telling the trauma and life stories and creating artwork as part of the healing process. This format is designed to show the participant their trauma story in the context of their life as a whole. This allows them to see that the trauma which they have suffered was an event in their life and does not define their life. The disproportionate impact upon the person’s emotions is recognised - participants are encouraged to recognise the significance of the event. However, participants report that this structure enables them to see that life was good before their trauma occurred and that there is no reason why life should not be good again. Participants can visualise the trauma as having a start and end point. It has been reported that this is a big factor in helping people to move on.
Below is some feedback from recent participants:
“The Programme provides time out from your busy life just for you. Time to focus on your internal journey”
“The Wider Circle Programme gives the person the opportunity, in a safe and secure environment, to move towards closure and a better future”
“I felt very comfortable in the group and supported and listened and respected”
“Insightful healing – thank you for all your help and support”
“The Programme helped me let go of a lot of fear and anxiety associated with a traumatic event in my life and allowed me to listen and support others in helping produce collages which facilitated others’ journeys”
“A release and liberation through respect, listening, sharing and healing”
“I was glad the burden was lifted off my shoulders, the weight was gone at last”
“Everything was made straight forward and the whole thing was respectful and gentle”
The programme is free-of-charge, please see here for upcoming programmes.
For further information on the Steps to Healing Programme, or to register, please contact Terry or Gillian on (028) 9069 3430 or email info@widercircle.org. Or, you can complete the Participant Questionnaire below and return it by post or email to the office.
Steps to Healing PARTICIPANT QUESTIONNAIRE.doc