Self and Trauma

• This group is suitable for students at any stage of their education who are accessing CAPS regarding previous traumatic experiences which impact their current wellbeing, including e.g. traumatic event(s), adverse childhood experience(s) (ACE), sexual assault (where no further legal or other action is planned), domestic abuse, family or interpersonal relationships. You may be presenting with trauma responses i.e. flashbacks, avoidance, emotional numbing, negative feelings and/or negative self-perception.
• The group will
  • Reflect on the impact of trauma on your self and world view.
  • Contextualise and normalise the impact of trauma.
  • Co-create a containing and safe space to talk and relate with others about living with trauma,
  • Explore and navigate your current lived experience by encouraging curiosity, compassion and opportunity for growth
  • Explore topics such as stimulus and response, sensory soothing, grounding, mindfulness, navigation of interpersonal relationships and identity.
• NB Naming and discussing the traumatic event is not part of the group approach – we will explore the impact and trauma responses in the here and now/future
• The group is facilitated by University Psychological Therapists from the Counselling and Psychotherapy Service (CAPS) and based within Wellbeing and Student Support in Senate house on central campus.
• This is a weekly ‘in person’ group requiring punctual attendance at all 8 sessions. Each session will run for 90 minutes.
• Students interested in this group should discuss this with the person they are currently working with such as Psychological Therapist, University SDAA (Sexual and Domestic Abuse Advisor), Wellbeing advisor etc. They will then be offered a one-to-one pre-group meeting session with the group facilitator(s) to ask any specific questions and to consider whether it is a suitable option at this time.

Feedback from previous group members 2024-25:

“..... a place where you can safely express your emotions and not feel shame or guilt but met with curiosity and kindness instead”

“Trauma can be so isolating but even though everyone in the group has had different experiences, it has helped so much to hear their own thoughts because there is so much overlap”

“I feel like I now have a far deeper understanding of self”

“letting go of the feeling of shame and also that just because you don’t feel good about yourself doesn’t mean you aren’t good”

“It’s not my fault and that I’m never alone in my experiences. The things I feel shame for I don’t have to feel bad about.”

“It’s the best form therapy I have been in”

“I felt really connected with my group and found it a lot more beneficial than individual therapy”