Flourishing Group
Discover, Grow, Thrive: Together We Heal.
Our Analytic & Somatic Therapy Group For Adoptees
Join Psychotherapist Anthea Benjamin and Shania in our Analytic and Somatic Therapy Group for Adoptees. Weekly sessions online every Tuesday evening.
Explore relationships, foster mutual support, and unlock potential.
Together, let's embrace our stories, support growth, and emerge stronger, wiser, and fulfilled.
Meet Your Facilitators
Shania Ives
Trainee Integrative Psychotherapist & Founder of The Dunbar Project.
Shania is an adult adoptee who was empowered to support other adoptees due to her history of mental distress. Shania facilitates The Dunbar Project’s support groups and provides coaching and consulting to all of those involved in adoption.
Anthea Benjamin
UKCP registered Integrative Arts Psychotherapist, Adolescent Therapeutic Counsellor, Group Analyst, Supervisor, Trainer and Writer.
Anthea has over 20 years of experience in various settings including schools, community projects, the voluntary sector and within the NHS. She is passionate about supporting care-experienced people in their healing journeys. Anthea has worked with PAC-UK, as well as in residential homes and fostering.
FAQs
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You can join by clicking the button at the bottom or top of the page. It will take you to an expression of interest form.
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The group has a total of 8 spaces available. It's crucial for the group to remain small to foster intimacy and meaningful connections among members. Additionally, maintaining a balanced mixture of personalities enriches the overall dynamic of the group.
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This is fine. We jut don’t wat people dropping in and out of the group a disrupts the flow.
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Yes. We are open to creating more groups in the future.
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The group takes place online.
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Online therapy is definitely effective! However, it can be a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer taking therapy from the comfort of their own homes, whereas others prefer to be in the room with others. If you haveever been to our onli e supportgroups you will now tat meaningful connections and healing can be done in a virtual space.
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We wish we could take everyone who expresses interest, but we can’t.
We will read through all the expression of interest forms & have 1-1 chats with each potential member to see what they would like to get out of therapy.
Members will be selected in a way that will provide a balanced group dynamic. Therefore, if you are not selected to join, please understand that it is not a reflection of you personally, but rather a necessary step to ensure the group's cohesion and effectiveness.
Our group operates on a slow open policy. This means that when a member leaves, we allow space for grieving the loss before opening the spot to someone on the waitlist. This approach maintains the group's continuity while honouring the relationships formed within it. Thank you for your understanding.
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Group Analysis, pioneered by Dr. SH Foulkes in the 1940s, is a well-established form of psychotherapy. It operates on the belief that profound and enduring changes can be achieved within a carefully curated group that reflects the diversity of society. Central to group psychotherapy is the open and sincere exchange of personal experiences. Within the supportive yet challenging environment of the group, individuals are given the opportunity to explore both past and present difficulties, gaining deeper insights into themselves and their relationships, with the aim of transforming unfulfilling aspects of their lives.
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Somatic therapy is a holistic approach to mental health that acknowledges the deep connection between the mind and body. It traces its roots back to early psychoanalytic thinkers like Wilhelm Reich and later developments in body-oriented psychotherapy. This therapeutic modality recognises that emotional experiences are not only expressed through thoughts and feelings but also through physical sensations, movements, and postures.
Somatic therapy aims to address unresolved trauma and emotional pain by accessing the body's innate wisdom. Through techniques such as mindfulness, breathwork, body awareness, and gentle movement, individuals are guided to tune into bodily sensations and release stored tension. By integrating the mind-body connection, somatic therapy facilitates healing on a deeper level, promoting emotional regulation, resilience, and a sense of wholeness.