Groups

We are committed to providing low cost group interventions and, where we are able to secure additional funding, some free places will be offered to support those in most need.

Groups will usually be facilitated in person, in the Manchester area using different locations depending on what the group members need and where they are based. The dates for these groups are not set in advance and will depend on the number of referrals and enquiries we receive. We will update this page when dates are set.

We are currently taking enquiries and referrals for the following groups:

Parenting children who express distress through aggression:

• Based on the evidence based therapeutic model called Non-Violent Resistance;
• Great for parents of children who are expressing their distress through aggression or controlling behaviours inside and / or outside the home;
• Also a good model for parents of children who are not attending school;
• This is a really empowering model, focusing on parents feeling more present and empowered and learning what they can do in situations that often feel stuck.
• This can be offered as a 12 session group (2 hour sessions) or three days of workshops to groups of up to 8 families.
• An assessment and a mid-way review session will also take place.
• This means that there are 28 hours of assessment and therapeutic time with our psychologists for each family.

Parenting children who experience anxiety:

• This group uses the SPACE model (Supportive Parenting for Childhood Anxious Emotions);
• It is evidence based and used with parents whether or not the child / adolescent is also engaging in therapeutic work - it has been shown to benefit the child or adolescent even without them doing therapy themselves;
• SPACE is based on the NVR model outlined above, but adapted and suitable for families where there is no or minimal aggression or conflict.
• SPACE is an empowering model for parents who can learn how best to respond to situations where their child or children are experiencing anxiety in a way that helps to reduce that anxiety in the medium to long term.
• This can be offered as a 12 session group (2 hour sessions) or three days of workshops to groups of up to 8 families.
• An assessment and a mid-way review session will also take place.
• This means that there are 28 hours of assessment and therapeutic time with our psychologists for each family.

Enhancing resilience using the Tree of Life: refugees and asylum seekers

• This is a group intervention that will be supported by interpreters if needed, based on narrative therapy principles.
• The Tree of Life model has been used effectively with groups of refugees in various countries around the world.
• It is a strengths based model that does not involve talking directly about traumatic experiences but focuses on developing connections and resilience in the group and the surrounding community.
• The group will be a place where people can develop relationships with other people, focus on their strengths as a group and talk about ways in which they have already overcome adversity and the impact of past events.
• The group will be supported by a community musician and other creative ways of expression will be supported.
• This will be facilitated as an 8 week group.

Separated families - parenting beyond conflict:

• This is based on the Family Ties model devised by the Anna Freud Centre and is influenced by the "No Kids In The Middle" model.
• We currently offer this as an individual parenting / family intervention but are looking to provide this work as a multi-family group intervention due to increasing demand.
• The number of sessions and format is yet to be decided, based on the number of families expressing an interest.

At this stage, we suggest that you get in touch with us if you would like more information or an initial discussion about suitability.

If you would like more information, please contact us using the "contact" page. If you would like to add yourself or someone else (with their permission) to the waiting list for these groups, please do so here: https://uk.client.tacklit.com/p/altogether-human/referral and please specify which group you are enquiring about.

We will offer an assessment to ensure that you and your family are signing up for the best group for you.

If there is something else that you had in mind that isn't here, you might not be alone! Please feel free to get in touch with us to ask about other possibilities. We are keen to be responsive to the needs of the community, and are happy to develop new group spaces in a way that would be helpful. Just let us know what you're looking for - we will do our best to help.