Empowerment after Domestic Abuse 


The More Positive Me, Empowerment After Domestic Abuse Course is held at venues across the Devon area. They are facilitated by Jeanette, the Founding Director of More Positive Me CIC & our amazing Bank of Facilitators.


Course Options

This course is available in several formats to suit different needs:

  • Face-to-face group courses in Devon
  • 12 weeks: 1 chapter per week, 2.5 hours per session
  • 4 weeks: 3 chapters per week, 6 hours per session
  • One-to-one weekly sessions
  • Online group Zoom courses
  • Self-paced eCourse
  • Workbook-based option

Who the Course Supports

This course is designed for people of all genders who have experienced controlling or abusive relationships—whether with an intimate partner or family member. It offers support to those who may be feeling:

  • Isolated (physically and/or emotionally)
  • Low in self-esteem
  • Unsure how to set healthy boundaries
  • Hopeless about regaining control of their life

Group sessions are run separately for men only and women only. LGBT+ participants are welcome to join the group they feel most comfortable in, or they may choose to access the Rainbow Project with Intercom Trust.

What Participants Can Expect

By attending every week of this course, participants will:

  • Gain a clearer understanding of their past relationships
  • Develop new skills for building healthier futures
  • Learn to set and maintain acceptable personal boundaries

Important Notes for Face-to-Face Courses

For in-person courses, we ask that applicants commit to attending every session to gain the full benefit. If you are not in a position to commit right now, we recommend waiting until you are ready. You will remain on the waiting list for future courses unless you ask to be removed.

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The Benefits and results:

 

  •  Ability to manage everyday life in the aftermath of abuse/under continued threat.
  •  Increased confidence and self-worth.
  •  Reduced self-harm and use of alcohol/medication/drugs as coping strategies, and encourage healthy coping strategies.
  •  Breaking the cycle of the abuse wheel.
  •  Increased ability to process emotions and feelings.
  •  Lowering stress levels, guilt and shame.
  •  Empowering them to make their own decisions.
  •  Recognition of abuse.
  •  Peer support and friendship.
  •  Use of assertive techniques that make a real difference.
  •  Understanding behaviours that are a fear response.
  •  Happiness and fulfilment.

What does the course look like?

What is Abuse?

Session Aims

  1. To understand domestic abuse and its different dynamics
  2. To offer hope as you take your first steps towards recovery
  3. To establish self-care as part of your weekly or even daily routine

Why is It So Hard To Leave?

Session Aims:

  1. To examine the issue of who is responsible for the abuse.
  2. To explore the concept of love as an addiction.
  3. To understand why it is so hard to leave an abusive relationship.

Childhood Legacy

Session Aims:

  1. To examine the legacy of your own childhood.
  2. To learn from the lessons our childhood taught us and break unhealthy patterns.
  3. To encourage you to nurture and value yourself.

Emotions, Grief, Fear & Guilt

Session Aims:

  1. To connect with our emotions
  2. To understand our emotions, their importance and recognise the impact

Emotions, Anger

Session Aims:

  1. To explore anger as an emotion.
  2. To distinguish between anger and aggression.
  3. Look at how to deal with anger appropriately.

Boundary Setting

Session Aims:

  1. To gain an understanding of boundaries and the feelings assosiated with setting them.
  2. Recognising healthy boundaries, with everyone - not just partners or ex-partners.
  3. Explore healthy ways to protect your boundaries and the importance of doing so.

Behaviour Types & Assertiveness

Session Aims:

  1. To recognise different behaviour types.
  2. To learn about body language, traits and the link to our Bill of Rights and boundary setting.
  3. Practise Gratitude.

Assertiveness

Session Aims:

  1. Discover the "I" message and put it into practie to protect your  boundaries and Bill of Rights.
  2. To practise making and refusing requests
  3. To identify the 3 assertiveness techniques.

Red Flags

Session Aims:

  1. To recognise early signs of abuse.
  2. To understand fair ways of communicating.
  3. To recognise healthy relationships.

Decision Making

Session Aims:

  1. To understand decision-making in a new light.
  2. To work through steps for making decisions
  3. To start to lose the fear that can surround decision Making.

Goal Setting

Session Aims:

  1. The importance of setting goals to help you move forward.
  2. How to set P-SMART goals.
  3. How creating a vision or dream board can make a substantial difference to your future.

Bringing It All Together

Session Aims:

  1. Look at the journey travelled since starting this book/course
  2. Celebrate how far you have come
  3. Look at what is next for you. It's not the end, it's just the beginnings.

How can you access our Empowerment Course?


  • Both professional and self-referrals provide free access to the eCourse and face-to-face courses.
  • Donations prioritise your place and guarantee access to the next available course


The courses are also available under License by:

 

NDADA - North Devon Against Domestic Abuse 

FREEDA - Free From Domestic Abuse - Jersey

Inspire South West - Empowering Young People & Families


It is essential that you are no longer in an abusive relationship to attend this course. Safety before empowerment. We encourage you access specialist domestic abuse services for support and safety planning:

 

Devon Domestic Abuse Alliance - 08082 816161

Devon-wide Victim Care - local domestic abuse & sexual violence support - 01392 475900

National Domestic Abuse Helpline - free, confidential, 24 hours - 0808 2000 247

Male Advice Line - specialist domestic abuse support for men - 0808 8010 327

Intercom Trust - specialist domestic abuse support for LGBT+ people - 0800 612 3010

Devon Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Services - free, confidential sexual violence support - 01392 204 174



"At the end of 2019, I was at my wits end and in despair. I had just had a failed attempt at therapy which was terminated due to my inability to cope with my emotions. Quite ironic I thought as that’s why I had reached out in the first place. A lifetime of suppressed trauma had pushed me from cycle of abuse to another. Finally I hit rock bottom. By chance I came a cross More Positive Me. I referred myself and began the pattern changing course in January.

Jeanette and Debbie gave me something I have never received before from any service. From GP, therapy to Social services. An understanding and knowledge and a non judgmental approach of the trauma I had been through from childhood to adulthood suffering abuse and domestic abuse. And how this has had an ongoing affect on my life, emotions and life choices I have made.

Suddenly I have been handed hope. That what I have endured will not always be me. I have the power within me to change these patterns of belief. By the methods we have been taught. I didn’t expect the change to come so quickly. It is as if a light has been turned back on within my soul.

I will be forever grateful for the support, encouragement, knowledge and non judgmental kindness I have received and the ongoing support and bond with all the ladies I met.

My self esteem and confidence is rising and I look forward to the ongoing discovery of a ‘more positive me’ and future."