Co-ED Trauma Group

"Embracing the Child, Healing the Adult"

12 sessions, offered two or three times a year, telehealth or hybrid online/in-person, Saturday mornings, fee-for-service. Please call Carmen at (978) 237-4730 or email for details, or to receive a brochure

Are you depressed, fearful, in an unhappy relationship or have PTSD?

Do you feel that this is related to hurts experienced in childhood? If so, this upcoming Tuesday evening group program may be of help.

We investigate the origins of self-defeating adult behaviors and distressful symptoms by exploring negative childhood events such as abuse, neglect, abandonment, rejection, trauma or a significant loss.

The primary focus of the program is on understanding the impact of trauma, understanding & practicing healing tools, and processing the emotions that accompany such past events so we can resolve grief and anguish.

Each 90-minute session, we do this in three phases:

1. Information phase:

We learn about the needs of children and adolescents, the effects of abuse, neglect and abandonment, different types of therapy available, stages and types of trauma treatment, the effects of dissociation, mindfulness techniques, anger management, habits that promote individual healing and peer support or 12-step groups.

2. Experiential phase:

In a supportive group environment, we look at the impact of the profound relationship between a child and his or her caregivers. Childhood wounds are explored using evidence-based therapeutic techniques through the eyes of the child, without placing blame on parents. We discover the impact these experiences have had on self-esteem, boundaries in relationships, our degree of dependency on others, and our ability to have moderation in important areas of life.

This phase also serves to release painful emotions and to begin the process of re-parenting the parts of the self that have been shamed, neglected or abandoned. We can reclaim our inner power and peace of mind!

Exercises include:

  • Guided imagery meditations

  • Inner child work

  • Release of feelings with music

  • CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

  • EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)

  • Polyvagal exercises

  • Affirmations

  • Group discussions

  • Mindfulness and relaxation skills

  • Anger management skills

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) demo

  • Flash technique

3. Debriefing phase:

Those who want share their insights, experiences and feelings during the exercises with the group. The group leader summarizes the main messages of the session and answers questions that may have come up.