By Trudy Tumusime
Angel (not real name) started a new chapter of her life, over a decade ago, when she moved to Canada. She was sponsored by the love of her life – now ex-partner. The initial years were filled with excitement as the couple began building their family and welcomed their first child.
However, as time went by, Angel found herself trapped in an abusive relationship, enduring emotional, financial and physical abuse. Despite the challenges she faced in the marriage, Angel made the courageous decision to break free from the cycle of abuse and seek the help she needed to heal and rebuild her life.
Finding Support
In the thick of court battles and the demands of single parenthood, Angel sought various resources to improve her mental well-being. She was one of the first participants in the Revive and Thrive Peer Support Group, a collaborative mental health project between the MNLCT and the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, for women and gender-diverse survivors of abuse.
Although she had previously engaged in individual counselling, Angel liked the idea of group therapy hoping to connect with others who shared similar experiences.
“When you are going through a hard time, every little help is help.” says Angel, “I wanted to try out the group therapy and learn from other people and know that the situation I am going through is also happening to other people.”
The power of shared experiences
In group sessions, Angel found solace and empowerment. Participants were encouraged to share their own stories, offer support, advice and tips to one another. The collective sharing allowed Angel to realize that she was not alone in her struggles. Witnessing the resilience of others and hearing their stories inspired Angel to reflect on her own journey and to embrace the choices she made.
It helped me to understand where I am in society and the issues of many others, and that there are great opportunities to heal through exercise or getting advice.”
The group sessions did not only provide Angel with a safe space to share her experiences but also helped her recognize the uniqueness and strength in her own story. The facilitators, Angel says, reassured participants that the decisions they had made were the best they could have made at the time, instilling a sense of confidence and self-acceptance. Through this group, Angel discovered that she was not a bad person and that there were kind-hearted people ready to support her.
What Angel loved the most were practical exercises, especially ones that involved writing about one another.
“I found that really touching, because whatever you write about others are good things, I got to see that others can see the same in me.”
Angel’s participation in the Revive and Thrive peer support group has been transformative, offering her a renewed sense of hope, validation and strength. She hopes that the upcoming groups could offer a little bit more sessions about self-esteem because most women survivors of abuse get their confidence knocked down bad. Overall, Angel is grateful for the experience she had at the group therapy and wants to recommend it to other people who might need it.
The group made me understand that I am not alone.” Angel says, “With one-on-one you could share stories but with a group, you learn that you are not alone.”
The Revive and Thrive Peer Support group aims to equip participants with coping strategies, safety planning, and connections to resources that would facilitate their journey toward healing.
