3 Things I Can Expect from a Passages of Hope Group
by Seth Hooper
You may have been thinking about joining a Passages of Hope Support Group for a while or maybe you are just learning about our groups. Either way, there is a good chance you have a lot of questions. What are the groups like? What are they about? Who leads them? These are all great questions, and we hope to answer some of them below!
Our Groups Speak to Specific Issues
At Passages of Hope, we offer groups for those who have experienced sexual trauma, reproductive loss, unhealthy patterns of behavior, and who have carried the weight of having an abortion. Each group is designed to speak to the realities of what these specific experiences were like. As part of a support group, members begin to gain an understanding of how these experiences have affected them and to see that they are not alone in their feelings. There is healing that can only come when we are willing to interact with kindness and curiosity toward the hard parts of our stories.
Our Groups Are Led by Passionate Group Leaders
Our groups are peer-led by leaders who have been through one of our groups and have received training and support from the Passages of Hope staff. Many of our group leaders serve because they received healing in one of our groups and have the desire to help others. Our group leaders are eager to enter into your story and support you in the healing process. When there are areas of our lives that we are unsure how to care for, it can be helpful having a seasoned guide who can walk alongside us and provide specific support.
Our Groups Seek to Provide Support
Not only is it helpful to have a guide in these parts of our stories, but it also is helpful to journey with others who are seeking healing as well. One purpose of our groups is to provide a space for group members to get help and support from others who have had similar experiences. We believe that when we enter into these difficult parts of our stories with others, we are able to see that we are not alone in our feelings. Many of the hard things that have taken place in our lives have happened with others and it is important that our healing happens in the community as well. There is great comfort, in knowing we are not alone in our hurt and pain and that others can understand because they have experienced it as well.
Joining a group may seem scary, but our groups are specifically designed to meet you where you are on your healing journey. If you are tired of dealing with your shame and guilt in the same way you always have, then consider joining one of our support groups. By joining you will let our group leaders and other members help you start down the road towards wholeness and freedom.