This male-centred therapeutic group course is a facilitated psychological-educational group, designed to give participants the skills to take ownership of their personal journey of trauma recovery. Mankind welcomes cis men, non-binary, gender fluid, trans and intersex people who feel a male-centred service best suits their needs.
It runs for 10 weeks, for 2 hours per week.
It is not a traditional support group where participants share details of their past traumatic experiences. While the format is interactive, group members are not required to divulge personal information or talk about any details of abuse to the group. It is at the same time, same day, with the same participants each week.
Aims of A Hero’s Journey (AHJ)
The group will focus on increasing participants’ understanding of the nature of trauma and expanding their coping strategies for the complex consequences of sexual abuse. Participants will:
- Gain techniques, skills and theoretical understanding to help recover from trauma;
- Benefit from being with a group of people who have had a shared experience of sexual trauma.
The topics covered during the 10 weeks will include:
- Beginnings – What to expect in ‘A Hero’s Journey’
- Understanding Trauma and Recovery
- The Aftermath of Trauma
- Safety and Grounding
- Flashbacks, Dissociation & Resourcing
- Trauma & Identity
- Trauma & Relationships
- Emotions & Trauma
- Integration & Looking Ahead
- Honouring the Journey & Endings
Many who join the course are nervous about being part of a group; many also say that being on A Hero’s Journey brings a sense of belonging and safety that they haven’t felt before. The course is offered at no charge (voluntary donations can be made).
We don’t recommend that people join a group course if they have not had any one-to-one counselling. So once you have started your individual counselling you can discuss joining one of these group courses with your counsellor and then an introductory one hour initial meeting is a requirement before joining the programme.
Some people join a group alongside their counselling. Others wait until afterwards, and some decide not to do the group. You can discuss this with your counsellor.
If you have had your one-to-one counselling elsewhere and would like to join one of our groups please let us know that when you get in touch.
Currently our in-person course in Hove runs from 12pm until 2pm on Mondays. Our online courses run on Mondays 12.30pm to 2.30pm or Tuesdays 11.30am to 1.30pm.