Working with the Community
Work with UDWA and Sesame Organisation (formerly EVR)
This six-month group therapy program in partnership with UDWA and EVR provided a culturally attuned, gender-sensitive, and safe space for 13 individuals navigating complex trauma. By creating a space with compassion, respect, and empathy, the sessions addressed the lasting psychological impact of abuse, systemic poverty, and trafficking-related experiences.
Participants did not only work through the impacts of abuse, exploitation, and trauma—but also facing the ongoing challenges of adapting to new environment, culture, and language. This added layer of difficulty has a big impact on their present experiences. The sessions addressed not only past trauma but also the ongoing realities of migration and marginalisation, with a strong focus on rebuilding identity, agency, and confidence.
Participants described the group as a space of shared safety, validation, and empowerment. The approach honoured participants’ identities, languages, and lived experiences—enabling authentic engagement and relational trust.
This group therapy program resulted in meaningful, measurable reductions in psychological distress. Continued access to culturally appropriate and gender-informed mental health support is strongly recommended to maintain and build upon this progress.
Work with UDWA and SEEAC
The group therapy sessions provided a culturally responsive, gender-sensitive, and trauma-informed space for 18 participants experiencing complex psychological distress.
The program supported women aged 30-55 navigating the layered impacts of modern-day slavery, trauma, chronic stress, migration-related uncertainty, and systemic barriers.
The sessions were built on trust and confidentiality that grew into compassion, safety, and mutual respect, allowing participants to explore emotional challenges within a trusted and supportive group environment. Many participants entered the program with long histories of anxiety, depression, and emotional isolation, compounded by experiences of displacement, instability, and limited access to culturally appropriate mental health support.
The participants described the group as a safe, non-judgmental, and empowering space where they felt heard, respected, and understood. Majority of the participants reported that this was the first time they were able to openly express emotions, trauma, and fears without shame or fear of disclosure.
The cultural and gender sensitive model helped to create trust and engagement, allowing participants to reconnect with themselves, one another and continued grow in their trust and confidence with
themselves.
The 12-session group therapy program demonstrates the critical impact of culturally responsive, gender-informed mental health support for individuals navigating complex trauma and migration-related stressors. Despite continued stressors, participants developed meaningful mental health awareness and developed tools that can support long-term recovery and stability.
This group therapy program resulted in meaningful, measurable reductions in psychological distress. Continued access to culturally appropriate and gender-informed mental health support is strongly recommended to maintain and build upon this progress
Work with Parents and Sesame Organisation
The purpose of the group is to offer a space for parents of ESEA children to come together, learn, and support one another. We encourage participants to share a brave and compassionate space which allows for open dialogue, offering opportunity to learn from others’ experiences
