SUPPORT GROUPS AT BWSS 2010

At Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) Support Groups are intrinsic to empowerment and empowerment is at the heart of healing from the oppression of abuse and violence. BWSS is committed to offering support groups to women dealing with abuse and its effects. The BWSS Women’s Support Group Program provides a safe place for women to connect with each other in order to alleviate isolation, share information, raise awareness, heal by developing coping and recovery skills and plan for a life free from abuse.

This is the list of support groups offer at BWSS. Drop-in Groups are offered through the whole year and specialized groups are offered on seasonal basis or based on requests from the women who access our services.

DROP-IN GROUPS

When: Every Tuesday
Time: 12-2
Location: BWSS office

This is an open group for women who have been physically, sexually, and/or emotionally abused by their intimate partner. This group is for women who are dealing with immediate crisis, who may want to participate in a support group and yet they are not ready or can not commit for a close group (ten-week group).

 

Ten-Week Drop-In Group at Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (DEWC)

When: Tuesdays
               Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre

This is a closed group for women who have experience abuse in an intimate relationship who are living in the Downtown Eastside . The purpose of this group is to create a safe environment where women can share their experiences. Women will start reducing isolation, and will be able to obtain information and resources. Women in this group will learn about the impact that abuse and violence has had on them. They will explore self-image and healing process.

Aboriginal Women’s Support Groups

Healing Circle
This support group is a closed group for Aboriginal women survivors of the residential school, inter-generation survivors, or who have experienced adoption, foster care, child apprehension, violence and/or witnessed violence. Positive key objectives are women will learn healthy coping skills, recognize their strength and restore balance.

Location:  BWSS Office

Arts and Culture

This series of workshops are specifically for women to rediscover their strengths, identity as a woman, gain confidence, understand the balance of mind, body and spirit creatively, and culturally. These steps forward in self development, in a safe environment will be explored in music, drumming, storytelling, writing, visual art, theatre, Indigenous dance and women are encouraged to incorporate their own form of dance expression.

Location:  BWSS Office

Latin American Women’s Support Group

When:  Every Monday
Time: 10-12 am
Location: BWSS office

This is a support group for Non-Status, Refugee and Immigrant women who speak Spanish as a first language and who face language barriers in accessing other groups. This group is for women who have been physically, sexually, and/or emotionally abused by their intimate partner as well for women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse adult sexual assault and are dealing with the effects of trauma. This group addresses the impact of the settlement process. Women will start reducing isolation, and will be able to obtain information and resources. Women in this group will learn about the impact that abuse and violence has had on them. They will explore self-image and how to gain confidence.

SPECIALIZED GROUPS

Healing From Trauma Through Empowerment. Stage I (HFTTES I) Empowerment

When: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer
               Location: BWSS office

This is a closed group for women who are dealing with the serious/complex effects of trauma and/or emotional distress, who are in their first stage of their healing process, and who are experiencing barriers to accessing services for their trauma/abuse histories. Trauma includes child abuse, sexual abuse/assault, violence in relationships, survivors of torture, survivors of the residential school system, and institutional abuse. This is a 10 week structured group based on Maxine Harris’ trauma recovery and empowerment group model with emphasis on safety and coping strategies. The group has been divided in three stages.

Healing From Trauma Through Empowerment. Stage II (HFTTES II) Trauma Recovery

When: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer
               Location: BWSS office

This is a closed group for women who are dealing with the serious/complex effects of trauma and/or emotional distress, who have done HFTTES II, a second stage of their healing process, and who want to gain an understanding of trauma and its effects. Through this stage participants learn about trauma and feelings associated with it. This is a 10 week structured group based on Maxine Harris’ trauma recovery and empowerment group model with emphasis on safety and coping strategies. The group has been divided in three stages.

Healing From Trauma Through Empowerment. Stage III (HFTTES III) Creating Life Changes

When: Fall, Winter, and Spring
               Location: BWSS office

This is a closed group for women who are dealing with the serious/complex effects of trauma and/or emotional distress, who have done HFTTES II, a second stage of their healing process, and who want to gain an understanding of trauma and its effects. Through this stage participants explore family myths, distortions, current family life, decision making, communication making, blame, acceptance, forgiveness and goal assessment. This is a 10 week structured group based on Maxine Harris’ trauma recovery and empowerment group model with emphasis on safety and coping strategies. The group has been divided in three stages.
           

Empowering Mothers Parenting Program

When: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer
               Location: BWSS office

This is a drop-in group for women who have experience abuse in their intimate relationship and their children/youth have witnessed their abuse, women who are survivors of residential school or foster care system, women who are at risk of being involved with MCFD, and/or any woman who wants to feel more empowered as a mother

16 Steps for Discovery & Empowerment

When: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer
               Location: BWSS office

This is a support group for women who have substance use issues or who have used substances as a coping strategy, who are seeking more empowerment in their lives, who are on a journey of self-discovery and who are interested in exploring healthier relationships. This is a 16 step women-centered open group based on the work of Charlotte Kasl – Many Roads, One Journey: Moving Beyond the 12 Steps.

Ten-Week Support Group

When: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer
               Location: BWSS office

This is a psycho-educational support group for women who have experienced abuse in an intimate relationship. The purpose of this gro

up is to create a safe environment where women can share their experiences. Women will start reducing isolation, and will be able to obtain information and resources. Women in this group will learn about the impact that abuse and violence has had on them. They will explore self-image and how to gain confidence.

My Money, My Choices

Location: BWSS office

This program is designed for women who have experienced abuse in an intimate relationship and who are working to make changes in their lives. A six week workshop series to gain a better understanding of your personal finances, learn about available resources, and create a personal money plan. This group is provided in partnership with Family Services of Grater Vancouver.

Lesbian/Bisexual Women 10-Week Support Group

Location: BWSS office

The lesbian/bisexual women’s support group is an education and support group for women who have been physically, sexually, and/or emotionally abused in a same-gender relationship and would like to have relationships free from abuse. Participants will share experiences and get support; develop self-awareness and insight; increase self-confidence and assertiveness skills; and learn to recognize what comprises an abusive relationship/ healthy relationship.

Knowing our Sexual Selves Support Group

Location: BWSS office

A Ten-Week closed group for women who have experienced sexualized violence and who want to explore their sexuality.  This group provides a safe, supportive space to explore their own sexual selves to reclaim and heal fro sexual oppression.

Managing the Effects of Trauma Through Art

This is a closed group for women who are experiencing ongoing struggles with the serious/complex effects of trauma and/or emotional distress, who are in their first stage of their healing process, and who are experiencing barriers to accessing services for their trauma/abuse histories. Trauma includes child abuse, sexual abuse/assault, violence in relationships, survivors of torture, survivors of the residential school system, and institutional abuse. Through this group, women are able to access support which combines psychotherapeutic theories and techniques with an understanding of the psychological of the creative process, especially the expressive properties of the different art materials. This is a 10 week structured closed group and is held once a year.
Location: BWSS office

Women Seeking Safety

This a closed group for women who are experiencing the ongoing struggles with substance use as well as the effects of trauma and/or emotional distress.  This group is for women who may be experiencing barriers to accessing services for trauma and substance use histories.  Trauma includes child abuse, rape/sexual assault, violence/abuse in relationships, survivors of residential school system, survivors of torture and institutional abuse.  Through this group, women are able to access support that includes examination of the role of substance use/addiction and the relationship with trauma.  This is a 10 week structured closed group and is held once a year and based on the work of Lisa Najavits. 
Location:  BWSS office

Understanding and Healing the Wounds of Broken Connections

This support group is a closed group. We recognize that usually women tend to seek relationships and see relationships as a place to “be”, “give”, and “receive”. Abuse
and violence experienced as a child, as an adult are painful experiences of disconnection. The painful experience of being abandoned often leads to abandoning ourselves in an attempt to distance from painful feelings or memories. What remains becomes like empty houses: neglected, deserted, uninhabited, and empty. The BWSS Abandonment, Attachment and Action is a support group for women who have been physically, sexually, and/or emotionally abused by their partner, husband, boyfriend, or in an a same-gender relationship, who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual assault and are dealing with the effects of trauma. Participants in this support group share experiences, get support, develop self-awareness and insight, explore the wound of abandonment in childhood and adulthood and learn tools for different stages of the journey to recovery and health. This is a ten week group based on the work of Susan Anderson-The Twelve Lessons of Abandonment Recovery. The group has been divided in two stages and they are held once a year.

Location: BWSS office

Recognizing and Understanding the Impacts of Abuse
Specialized Employment Program

A closed psycho-educational group for women who have experienced abuse in an intimate relationship. The purpose of this group is to create a safe environment where women can share their experiences and develop self’-awareness. Women are able to reduce isolation, and to obtain information and resources. Women in this group will learn about the impact that abuse and violence has had on them. They explore self-image and how to gain confidence. This is a ten week closed group provided to women who are enrolled with the Empowering Women’s Employment Program at BWSS.

Location: BWSS office

LEGAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM

Women’s Only Pro-Bono Clinic

When:  Every Tuesday
Time: 10-12 am
Location: BWSS office

We have partnered with Access Justice to hold in-house pro-bono clinics. The clinics are half hour free legal advice on family law issues. The lawyers do not represent women in court.

Legal Advocacy Workshops

When:  Twice a year
Time: 12-2 pm
Location: BWSS office

BWSS provides a 16 to 20 session workshops for women who are in need of legal information on their current family law cases. The BWSS Legal Advocate and volunteer lawyers provide the workshop on different topics and respond to women{s questions. This workshops are design for women who are ineligible for legal aid and-or are in need of legal support for their cases. Women are encouraged to bring forms or relevant paper work to the workshop for their own self-reference.