Tōku Mauri Workshops for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse

 

If you’re living with the effects of sexual abuse and seeking support to reclaim your life, our *Tōku Mauri* workshops may offer the support you need. These sessions provide a safe, empowering space to work toward healing and renewed strength.

 

In Our Workshops, You Will:

• Build Strength and Restore Hope: Empower yourself and reignite your sense of possibility.

• Develop a Healthy Self-Concept:  Foster a positive self-image and strengthen your sense of self-worth.

• Increase Emotional Range: Learn to embrace, understand, and express a full spectrum of emotions.

• Decrease Dissociation:  Enhance your connection to the present moment.

• Reduce Isolation and Secrecy:  Connect with others who share your experiences in a supportive, confidential setting.

• Alleviate Shame and Guilt: Address and begin to overcome feelings of shame and guilt.

• Develop Trusting Relationships: Form meaningful connections with those who understand your journey.

• Become a Creator of Your Own Life:  Gain tools and confidence to shape a future that aligns with your values and aspirations.

 

Who Should Attend?

These workshops are intended for individuals who have experienced sexual abuse and are ready for group support. We ask that all participants be engaged in ongoing therapy or counseling. To ensure a seamless experience, we’ll have a brief consultation with your therapist before the workshop and will provide them with feedback after its completion. This process is similar to how a specialist keeps your GP informed.

 

If you’re unsure whether this workshop is the right fit, please don’t hesitate to reach out for a conversation.

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Workshop Schedule:

Friday:        5:00 PM - 9:00 PM  

Saturday:  9:30 AM - 5:30 PM  

Sunday:     9:30 AM - 5:30 PM  

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Workshops will be held in the following areas: (dates to be confirmed) 

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• Auckland 

• Dunedin 10th to 12th October 

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Costs:

Non-ACC Clients:  A $100 deposit secures your place. The full workshop cost is $550 (incl. GST), payable one week before the workshop.

ACC Funding: Funding is available for eligible participants. Discuss this with your therapist or contact us directly to learn more.

 

 Cancellation Policy:

We understand that unexpected circumstances can arise. However, last-minute cancellations impact our planning, so a cancellation fee will apply or you could loose your allocated hours for group work with ACC for the year. 

 

Psychodrama and Its Role in Trauma Healing: An Integrative Approach

 

In the evolving field of trauma therapy, practitioners are finding that a holistic, integrative approach often provides the most profound and lasting healing. Among the modalities showing significant promise are psychodrama, breathwork, art therapy, and singing. These methods collectively engage the mind, body, and spirit, offering pathways to express, explore, and release deeply held traumas. Drawing on insights from renowned trauma experts like Dr. Peter Levine, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, and Dr. Gabor Maté, we can understand why these practices are so effective in healing generational and personal trauma.

 

Psychodrama: Revisiting and Releasing Trauma

 

Psychodrama, developed by Dr. Jacob Moreno, is a therapeutic approach where participants reenact significant moments from their lives. By using role-playing, movement, and group dynamics, psychodrama allows individuals to externalize their internal struggles. The enactment offers an opportunity to experience catharsis, gain insights, and reconnect with their wounded inner child.

 

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of :The Body Keeps the Score", emphasises the role of somatic therapies like psychodrama in healing trauma: “Trauma is stored in the body, not just the mind. By using the body in therapeutic processes, we can access and release trauma more effectively than through talk therapy alone.”

 

In psychodrama, participants often experience a visceral release as they revisit and reshape traumatic memories. This process can bring about a powerful sense of accomplishment and connection, as one participant reflected:

 

"Being able to let go and cry unashamedly, realising how lonely my inner child was, allowed me to give back love, understanding, and connection to that child. I came away with a sense of something very powerful, of brothers and sisters coming together as one family."

 

Breath work: Reconnecting with the Body

 

Breath work, a practice that focuses on intentional breathing patterns, is a complementary tool to psychodrama. Dr. Peter Levine, creator of "Somatic Experiencing", highlights the importance of breath in trauma recovery:

 

"Trauma disconnects us from our bodies. Through breath work, we can anchor ourselves in the present, regulate our nervous systems, and safely process buried emotions."

 

Slow, intentional breathing helps reduce anxiety, increase self-awareness, and provide a sense of safety - key factors in working through trauma. One participant noted:

"The research on slow breath and anxiety really resonated with me. I felt like I was moving in the right direction under the clear direction of the facilitators."

 

Art Therapy: Creative Expression for Deep Healing

 

Art therapy provides a non-verbal outlet for expressing complex and often overwhelming emotions. By creating visual representations of their experiences, trauma survivors can externalize pain and begin to process it. Dr. Gabor Maté, author of "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts", explains:

 

"Art can bypass the defences of the conscious mind, allowing the subconscious to reveal itself. In that creative space, healing can occur in ways that words alone cannot reach."

 

In group settings, the act of creating art together fosters a sense of camaraderie and safety. One participant reflected on the unexpected power of creativity in their healing journey:

 

"The role of music and waiata (song) was something I didn’t anticipate, but it was incredibly powerful. It gave me a sense of softness and connection."

 

Singing and Waiata: The Healing Power of Voice

 

Singing, especially in a communal setting, taps into deep emotional reservoirs. Waiata, traditional Māori songs, carry both cultural significance and healing properties. Singing together creates a shared emotional experience, promoting unity and reducing feelings of isolation.

 

Dr. van der Kolk notes, “The rhythm and vibrations of music can regulate our nervous system, helping us process trauma without being overwhelmed by it.” The communal act of singing can also dissolve shame and build a sense of belonging.

 

Group Dynamics: Healing in Community

 

Group therapy environments provide a unique context for trauma healing. The shared experience of vulnerability and strength fosters a sense of mutual support. One participant shared:

 

"You might have anxiety coming to this, but it dissipates as you go through the emotions and find commonality in what people face and suffer through. You come out with a better feeling at the end of it."

 

Another participant noted:

 

"I was terrified to join a group of strangers, but once I took that leap, I felt accepted and supported. In two short days, I made real progress and real friends."

 

This group solidarity helps dissolve the guilt, shame, and isolation often associated with trauma. By sharing stories and witnessing others’ healing, participants reclaim their sense of worth and belonging.

 

Generational Trauma and the Path Forward

 

For many, trauma is not an isolated incident but part of a generational pattern. Recognizing this can be both painful and liberating. As one participant noted:

 

"I realised that my suicidal tendencies were part of my generational trauma and that they no longer serve me. It was a powerful realisation to let that go."

 

Psychodrama, breath work, art therapy, and singing provide the tools to break these cycles, offering new pathways of connection and healing.

 

Final Thoughts: A Commitment to Healing

 

When asked if they would attend another session, participants unanimously affirmed:

 

"Yes, I definitely have more to unpack. Twenty hours sounded daunting, but the time flew by, and the learning and healing were invaluable."

 

Holistic approaches to trauma therapy invite us to reconnect with our bodies, express our truths, and heal in community. The integration of psychodrama, breath work, art therapy, and singing offers a powerful way forward - one that embraces the complexity of trauma and the resilience of the human spirit.

 

As Dr. Levine aptly puts it:

"Trauma is a fact of life, but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence."*

 

We look forward to supporting you on this journey of healing and transformation.