Peer support is when two or more people with similar experiences get together in person or electronically to share their experiences, to learn together how to move past the difficulties this has created in their lives, to give each other hope, and to support each other as they do the things they want to do and make their lives the way they want them to be.
WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan
mentalhealthrecovery.com
The Survivors Hub first opened its doors in November 2019 as a face-to-face peer support group for women identifying with Complex PTSD. Our priority was to create a relaxed environment where women would be able to safely express what they are experiencing and feel emotionally supported and understood. Each session, led by a holistic therapist, introduced a new method for achieving inner balance and wellbeing.
We ran the Survivors Hub over several months thanks to support from the National Lottery Community Fund. Then everything changed in March 2020, with the introduction of the government's Covid19 restrictions on gatherings. We had to suspend the group, watch and wait, just as the group was developing and beginning to bond.
We trialled monthly meet-ups on Zoom under the name, Virtual Energy Healing Group. This experience showed us that we could still create a supportive peer-led community online, and complementary therapies could be adapted to benefit the group. But sadly we lost the original members, some of whom expressed a preference to sit it out and wait until the original face-to-face format could resume. Since we do not know how long this wait will be, we are re-launching the Survivors Hub series on Zoom with an exciting new format under the leadership of Bedford-based counsellor Juanita Puddifoot MBACP.
With many of the restrictions on groups posed by the pandemic behind us, we are looking ahead to 2022 with hopes of restarting the Survivors Hub facilitated by Juanita Puddifoot MBACP, a professional transpersonal counsellor, international lecturer and teacher.
Juanita’s interest in holistic approaches stems from her own personal childhood traumas that led her on a journey of self-development, healing and transformation. Her passion is to help others understand and explore how to connect with the deeper knowledge and power within to heal the wounded parts of their soul. From her own ‘out of body’ experiences and sensitivity to other people’s emotions, Juanita understands the need for supportive and practical therapeutic methods to work with people.
For over 25 years Juanita has helped clients to transform their lives. She has also trained numerous people to develop their sensitivity to their subtle energy bodies and connect with other realities in a practical and grounded way. Using her therapeutic skills she supports people to explore their own inner journeys of healing, helping them connect with their own innate knowledge and power. The comments and feedback she has received over the years confirms her ability as a highly skilled teacher.
Juanita has a ‘tool kit’ of approaches to work with clients – psychodynamic, transpersonal, CBT, NLP, mindfulness/meditation, nature connection based work, goal focused, DMP regression therapy, shamanic practices and ceremonies, energy awareness chakras, aura etc, integrating the fragmented inner child, resolving generational repeating patterns (ancestors), healing the dissociative effects of trauma, and changing negative belief scripts to positive.
At Recovery Code X we understand that it takes a multi-level approach to recover from the symptoms of Complex PTSD.
The Survivors Hub is a peer support group facilitated by Juanita Puddifoot, who though her own journey to heal the effects of trauma understands that each aspect of a person: their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual levels needs support during the process of self-healing.
The two hour sessions will offer space for the group to share. We will be exploring differing methods to give participants practical tools to work with. Such as:
The Survivors Hub peer support group may help if you fall into two or more of the following categories:
1. You identify with a number of key symptoms of Complex PTSD.
See here for a detailed list.
2. Your life has been impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACES).
3. You want to take personal responsibility for your recovery and well being.
4. You have not been able to get a Complex PTSD diagnosis from your doctor, psychiatrist or therapist but feel it fits your experience.
5. You are in trauma therapy and it was suggested that a peer support group may be helpful.
6. You can't afford to pay a private psychotherapist and are waiting to get into the NHS system.
7. You feel isolated dealing with your symptoms and joining the Survivors Hub will enable you to be among others who will understand what you are experiencing.
A report by NESTA and National Voices (2015) shows that peer support can help people feel more knowledgeable, confident and happy, and less isolated and alone.
The two organisations examined the outcomes of peer support in 524 studies.
Among the initiatives found to be the most useful for improving emotional and physical well-being were:
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November 3rd 2020
The event was attended by members of the community from diverse backgrounds with a shared interest in services available for people needing help with their Complex PTSD symptoms.
Founder and Project Co-ordinator, Anna Bragga, and new Survivors Hub group Facilitator, Juanita Puddifoot, presented their talks at two different timeslots in order to comply with the government's Covid19 guidelines.
A repeating theme that came across was the need for services that address men's needs. As a result, Recovery Code X plans to conduct further consultations and look at funding new projects for men.
Anna L. Bragga, Founder and Project Co-ordinator
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To register, download and complete the assessment form below and return to admin@recoverycodex.org.
to help us provide more services
for people with Complex PTSD