Phoenix Group
Phoenix is a 10-week psycho-educational programme that explores how to stay safe in and out of abusive relationships, the tactics that abusers use and the effect that abuse has on individuals. It is an emotional, but positive, empowering and social experience that can help you move past abuse to live a healthier and happier life.
The programme has been designed to be interactive, inclusive and educational. In Phoenix, you will cover safety planning, the warning signs, power and control, as well as personal boundaries and building healthy relationships in a way that is engaging and promotes self-care.
“Phoenix has been a massive help and support to me, it’s helped me grow as a person and the facilitators have been right by my side. I feel so much stronger walking out the other side now.”
Who is Phoenix for?
Phoenix is for women, aged 16 and above, who live in the Canterbury district and have experienced domestic abuse. The programme is suitable if you’re in the relationship now, or are dealing with the effects after leaving.
Domestic abuse is experienced in many relationships, it can be from a partner, a child, parent, other family member or someone you have a close intimate relationship with. In Phoenix, you will look at how to stay safe, as well as tactics that are used to gain power and control in relationships.
When and where is Phoenix run?
Rising Sun coordinates and manages several Phoenix programmes throughout the year in safe locations in the Canterbury district. There are also opportunities to take part in an online Phoenix if you’re unable to attend a face-to-face group.
Phoenix runs for a 10-week period, with weekly group sessions lasting 2 hours.
To ensure the safety of everyone attending, we use a number of locations for the group. You will be notified of the location for the group once your attendance has been confirmed.
What will I gain from Phoenix?
Phoenix aims to help you move past abuse to live a healthier and happier life. It does this through:
- Helping you understand the tactics that abusers use to gain power and control
- Illustrating the effects of domestic abuse on yourself and children
- Helping you recognise healthy and unhealthy relationships in the future
- Increasing your self-esteem and confidence
- Building support networks with those with similar experiences
- Sharing community resources for further support
Frequently Asked Questions
We only run Phoenix within the Canterbury district, supporting women living in Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable.
If you live outside of the Canterbury district, you can find a local Phoenix group using the link below.
If you fit the following criteria, you can be referred into Phoenix by a professional or you can refer yourself.
- Are a woman who has experienced domestic abuse
- Are aged 16 and above
- Live in the Canterbury district (Canterbury, Whitstable or Herne Bay)
- Are either in an abusive relationship or have left an abusive relationship
Once you’ve been referred into the Phoenix programme, you will be placed onto a waiting list. When spaces become available, a member of our team will then be in touch to talk through the programme and check that it’s suitable for you. If suitable, you will be placed onto an upcoming Phoenix group.
We have a choice of face-to-face groups during the day, or online groups in the evening.
The location of face-to-face groups is kept confidential until the start of the group to ensure the safety of those attending.
Yes, you can access Phoenix if you’re still in a relationship. Phoenix explores how to stay safe when you’re in and out of an abusive relationship.
If you’re still in an abusive relationship, the facilitator will discuss how to ensure that you stay safe whilst attending the group.
You have complete autonomy over your choice to attend Phoenix. We always recommend that you come along to the first session of the group to try it, and if you don’t like it, you can stop.
We recognise that attending group support can stir up a mixture of emotions and that this can be overwhelming. If you attend your first session and feel that you’re not ready, you can stop and attend a future Phoenix when you feel ready.
Each group is different, but we aim to have between 10-15 women in each group. We like to keep Phoenix groups relatively small to allow space for everyone to have time to speak, to listen to others and to create bonds with one another.
If you attend the first session of Phoenix and realise that you know someone in the group, please tell the facilitator. We will chat this through with you in a sensitive and careful manner and will follow your wishes and support you in finding a solution that you’re comfortable with.
Together, you and the facilitator can speak through your options, and you will never be made to stay in a group that you don’t feel safe or comfortable in.
Domestic abuse erodes self-esteem and social skills, damages family intimacy, harms children, reduces the capacity for parenting and creates intense feelings of shame, guilt, isolation and loneliness.
In stark contrast to abuse, support groups lessen isolation and establish social bonds. Sharing life stories can combat feelings of shame and guilt; women can find help and learn coping strategies, whilst lessening their sense of inadequacy.