This group aims to treat/help clients who are experiencing anxiety and/or depression, hyper/hypo arousal as a result of sexual assault or abuse and to aide in creating a positive social support network for clients who may find social engagement difficult due to heightened sensitivity.

Participants will need to have an existing sensitive claim with ACC and approval for group therapy sessions.

Programme objectives

· To increase self-awareness and self-expression.

· To reduce stress and internal conflict.

· To recognise commonalities with other group members and develop awareness of the universal aspects of their difficulties.

· To use artistic activity as a way of coping with emotional issues.

· To increase self-worth and alter self-concepts.

· To clarify feelings and values.

· To use art making as a way of responding to others and expressing compassion for others.

Each group session will focus on a theme, either offered as an invitation by the facilitator or spontaneously by member/s of the group. Content will be offered and explored on both meta-verbal and verbal levels to best allow clients to be ‘met where they are at’ in the therapeutic group space and their own creative capacity. It is important to emphasize that it is the process of engaging with the arts modalities and the process of creative invitations that offers the therapeutic benefits. There is no requirement for participants to have any prior knowledge or experience with any arts modalities. Efforts will be made to keep creative invitations open, so clients are able to explore art making at their own pace. A clear group structure will be established to allow for safety and predictability. As this group is intended for clients who are already or have been engaged in individual therapy, it is not the intention of the group to re-open overwhelming or extremely distressing material.

Group Facilitator: Eliza Gibbons

Co-Facilitator: Jessica Lochte