The Freedom Programme
The Freedom Programme
We currently run two online Group Support Programmes. The Freedom Programme is designed for women who have experienced domestic abuse or may still be living with an abuser. The Recovery Programme is for women who have left an abusive relationship. You will find information about both programmes below.
To learn more, please contact the Refuge on 0818 42 42 44 or one of our experienced Domestic Abuse Outreach Workers –
If living in Kilkenny, contact Sarah 085 853 3872
If living in Carlow, contact Bébhinn 085 862 3627
We can have a chat and you can ask any questions you might have.
What is the Freedom Programme?
The Freedom Programme is a weekly support group for women that have experienced domestic abuse or may still be living with an abuser. It is a safe and confidential place for women to meet other women that have been or are in similar situations to each other. It is a very powerful group experience and can change the way you feel about the abuse you have experienced, giving you the insight to stop blaming yourself and concentrate on regaining your confidence and your life back.
The Programme is free, confidential, safe & non-judgemental. It is currently being run online to great success with many participants enjoying the flexibility that meeting online gives them. We have helpful guidelines to ensure participants are safe and secure while meeting online and you can access meetings on any phone or device. We can arrange a secure location for you to log in to meetings if you need one and can loan you a device (tablet) if required.
The aim of the programme is:
- To help women who have experienced domestic violence make sense of and understand what has happened to them.
- To recognise potential future abusers.
- To help women gain self-esteem and the confidence to improve their lives, instead of the whole experience just feeling like a horrible mess.
These sessions look at:
- How the abuser maintains control.
- The tactics and beliefs of abusive men.
- The effect of domestic violence and abuse on any children living in the home.
- The sessions will also help women to understand that what has happened to them is not their fault, as well as providing them with the knowledge needed to protect themselves and their children from harm.
- You will be provided with reading and materials required to complete the course.
What kind of women will I meet at the group?
- Women from all walks of life, of various ages, from different parts of Kilkenny and different countries. This is what makes the group so great, that it is full of diversity, but everyone shares similar experiences and can relate to each other’s lives. Every woman you meet in the group has experienced abuse, we don’t endorse women that haven’t had this experience but want to find out about abuse. We provide information at the refuge, if you are not sure if it is for you please telephone us at the refuge and we can talk to you. The Freedom Programme is open to all women, regardless of age, class, ethnic origin, disability, sexuality, nationality, religion or cultural beliefs. It is also open to women with or without children.
How do I know if it is confidential?
- We treat all women’s information confidentially. This means we do not discuss anything work related with a third party. In the group at the start we talk about group rules, one of the most important rules for most women is not discussing the names of women in the group and other women’s personal information outside of the group, to date this has worked well for us.
What will happen in the group?
- Each week the group focuses on specific tactics and behaviours that abusive men use. We have group discussions, share and learn from each. Each woman gets a work book about the programme and sometimes we give handouts. You don’t need to be able to read because we talk though the work. If English is not your first language please do not be put off, once you can understand the main points you can benefit from the group. We don’t expect you to talk if you don’t feel comfortable and we never put women on the spot or ask you to write or read unless you are comfortable with it. Women come and share and support each other you could meet a woman who has many years of experience. It is not acceptable to judge or criticise each other, it is a caring and welcoming environment. We don’t tell women what to do or that they should leave a relationship.
Am I expected to attend every week?
- The group runs for 12 weeks, women can come as often as they like. We understand that women are not always able to attend, as things come up. If you are still living with the abuser, he may be monitoring your whereabouts/online usage so it might not be easy for you to attend. As the group runs a rolling programme if you miss a week you can catch up at the next Freedom Programme if it suits you.
The Recovery Programme
The Domestic Abuse Recovery Toolkit Programme is a 12 week online Group Support Programme for women who have, in the past, experienced Domestic Abuse and who have left the abusive relationship. It is a closed group programme meaning participants attend all 12 weeks – starting and ending the group together as a shared journey. Each weekly online session is 2 hours long.
The programme aims to give you the tools to maximise your own wellbeing, potential and healing after abuse. The Recovery Toolkit aims to empower you to regain your sense of self and identity. We explore ways to heal from the impact of living with abuse and identify goals for the future. To ensure the programmes is suitable for you, we undertake an initial assessment with each woman.
Using group exercises to promote positivity, relaxation and calm anxiety, the Programme is designed to
- Build Confidence
- Develop effective coping strategies
- Reduce isolation
- Improve your general wellbeing
The course is delivered by accredited Recovery Toolkit trainers. Self-referrals and agency referrals are accepted. It is recommended, but not essential, that participants attend the Freedom Programme before the Recovery Toolkit.
