Group Therapy with ESEA Community
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.
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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. Importantly, the presence of a facilitator who shares cultural and migration-related experiences added a depth of affirmation many participants had never previously encountered.
The outcomes included:
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Increased emotional regulation and coping strategies
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Reconnection with self and community
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Enhanced confidence and self-worth
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A strong foundation for ongoing recovery and reintegration
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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.