Online Workshop

[Jamie]

I'm thinking of starting an online workshop for people to take part in. It will be free and will allow people to take part in exercises and discussion groups, all online, in total confidence. The course will be based on a pseudo-12 step programme and ultimately challenge people to break self-abusive habits and give a concrete base for further healing.

So, watch this space.

If you think you might be interested feel free to add a comment to this thread and I'll be in touch with detailed joining instructions closer to the time.

Jamie

[owl]

I would like to have a look; not sure what it would involve, but i would give it a try

[mrkbrock]

hi, im definately interested, i will gladly take any help i can right now.
mark

[Phillykins]

I'll join in.

[Sierra]

I might be interested. Depends how overwhelming my personal life is the time. I have a question: if we sign up and start participating, is it ok if we need time out etc?

[Jamie]

Thanks for all the responses.

The programme will be completely voluntary, so you can come and go as you please. I'll need to give some thought to the actuall process but I imagine it will be an extra section to the main forum that only those members who've signed up to do the course will be granted access. It will probably run for two or three months and I'll aim to do one every year?

It will be based on the self-help books that contain exercises for you to do, but with the added bonus of doing it as a group and with feedback. If at all possible I may be able to get guest speakers/counsellors on board to either help out or provide some input. People will have to bear in mind i don't have any formal training so any participation is done entirely at your own risk/responsibility. I think being in a safe place is imperative before you start and also having the ability to stop at any point should be exercised.

I'll get my thinking cap on.

Jamie

[Faranth]

I might be interested

[Jamie]

Ok - this is roughly what it will entail.

A formal course description will be posted in due course and joining instructions/applications will be provided at the same time.

Pre-requisite for the workshop

HAVOCA Safety Course (approx 1 wk)

An indepth look at how to recognise your personal safety, general awareness levels and assessing the impact your abuse has had on your life. The course will set you up to then start the HAVOCA Survivor's Workshop.

HAVOCA Survivor's Workshop (approx 3 months)

The course will be split into three main sections. The first section will allow you to explore your past, formally acknowledge the abuse and provide the backbone for your journey. The second stage will increase your awareness of your identity and give you the ability to mourn the things you lost as a child. The third stage, and arguably the most important will set you up to start the healing process. The workshop will look at coping methods, strategies and self help principles to put you firmly on the road to a becoming a thriver.

Both courses will be run online and require you to spend at least 1-2 hours a week looking at tasks and discussing issues with your fellow survivors. I'll see how much interest there is and possibly run two or three courses a year depending on demand.

Remember, I'm not a professional and all I can do is facilitate discussion and provide guidance based on the six years I've been running HAVOCA. The courses are by no means a replacement for professional therapy!

[owl]

Could I do it only to the depth I wanted to? Not do any parts of a section I didn't want to? Keep private anything i did not want to share? Can I set my own healthy boundary choices for how much I participated?

[Jamie]

Of course, but with all things in life...the more you can put into something the more you get out of it.

The course will aim to challenge you. If you can't write about a specific topic i don't think you should 'skip' out of it, but actually reflect on why you can't do it.

Also the course will utilise three methods.

1 Personal Blog/journal entries
2 Exercises done privately
3 Forum based discussions

[owl]

I will pm you my real reasons behind asking.

[Faranth]

I'm wondering who this is aimed at? Like... at what stage of healing it's for? I mean... is it for people who are just starting their healing journey, or those who are further on?

[Liz]

I'm wondering who this is aimed at? Like... at what stage of healing it's for? I mean... is it for people who are just starting their healing journey, or those who are further on?

I would think Faranth that its aimed at everyone regardless of the stage of healing they've reached.

Not sure that anyone else can speak for anyone else here. Just consider whether you might gain something from it. In sharing ideas and discussing things we can learn an immense amount from one another. Especially if we allow ourselves to be open to being challenged.

x

[Jamie]

Aimed at everyone....it would be very difficult to judge where a person is in their journey and therefore application to join the course would have to be a personal decision. If in doubt sign up for the first weeks safety course and decide from there.

Jamie

[owl]

Of course, but with all things in life...the more you can put into something the more you get out of it.

The course will aim to challenge you. If you can't write about a specific topic i don't think you should 'skip' out of it, but actually reflect on why you can't do it.

Also the course will utilise three methods.

1 Personal Blog/journal entries
2 Exercises done privately
3 Forum based discussions

The effort isn't a problem, but I would do that in private, I would not reveal the depth of personal stuff to others, and who are strangers, and online too :-)