What we’re about
"Trauma is when your reality is neither seen nor acknowledged" - Bessel van der Kolk
To us, post-traumatic stress is when the shame, isolation, and pain of past trauma are too intense for us to face and process. As a result, the past trauma 'lives' in a sense, and continues to affect our health, relationships, jobs, bodies, and day-to-day lives.
Sharing our traumas in a supportive environment is one avenue for lessening that shame and isolation. Ideally, we can continue to lessen the impact of our past traumas on our present-day lives.
Group details:
Peer support group for help in recovering from traumatic experience(s). All are welcome; and the "safe space" of the group is a priority. Formal diagnosis of PTSD is not required. People with "non-traditional" causes of PTSD and/or "Complex PTSD" are also encouraged to join.
Please note that neither the organizers nor the other members act as therapists. This is not a substitute for therapy, and the group is intended to support one's recovery, not serve as its sole venue. No one will push you to "dig deeper" into your story.
We ask that all members abide by the GUIDELINES linked below. Please note that these guidelines apply to meetups as well as to behavior on this website:
https://empathymatters.org/now/carl-rogers#NYC-PTSD
One may revisit the trauma, however, no one needs to relive it.
Friends and visitors are welcome and their presence is subject to the present members agreeing to the visit.
Through updating our outdated beliefs about reality we can alter the behaviors that derive from these old beliefs and achieve deep and lasting change. https://empathymatters.org/now/transformation/
Our current online technology: website host, zoom host, and meetup hosting are covered personally by Larry. If you would like to send a gratitude coffee, here is the link: https://buymeacoffee.com/Cup.of.Empathy