Facilitators Cinnamon Boreham and Danielle Fentiman said PTSD/PTSI — Post-traumatic stress disorder or post-traumatic stress injury — could have far reaching effects on people.
They are hoping to reach out to older members of the rainbow community to take part in the programme.
Co-facilitator Danielle Fentiman said people who identify as LGBTQIA+ could take years or even decades to disclose they have experienced sexual violence or sexual trauma.
"There is so much of it in the rainbow community that is not disclosed, because people don’t feel safe going to police."
Their first rainbow PTSD group therapy programme will run for 10 weeks from June 13, and they hope to run further programmes if there is demand for them.
"If somebody is over 50, engaged with an individual counsellor and has a history of mental injury because of sexual trauma, this group will be the right space for them."
The aim was to create a safe space that allowed people to build strengths and restore hope, and people did not need to share their personal story of abuse to be part of the group.
Some of the symptoms of PTSD could be re-experiencing the trauma, changes in mood, and problems sleeping.
There could also be physical implications like gut issues, heart issues, headaches and migraines.
"They can experience high reactivity, quite high levels of emotional distress."
- People interested can email yourhealingjourney11@gmail.com for more information.
