The Holding Space

Where healing is held, not forced

 

ACC Approved Trauma-informed group programmes integrating Internal Family Systems, Trauma Sensitive Yoga, and Relational Safety

Download Our Brochure

WELCOME

The Holding Space

ACC Funded Therapeutic Groups

Healing does not only happen in individual therapy. Sometimes it happens when we are gently witnessed. When our nervous system begins to settle in the presence of others. When we realise that our patterns make sense.

The Holding Space is the name we give to our ACC-funded therapeutic groups. It reflects the way we work. We do not push. We do not expose. We do not require disclosure. We create structured, trauma-informed spaces where safety, regulation, and understanding come first.

All groups are delivered within a trauma-informed framework and integrate Internal Family Systems principles and awareness of the autonomic nervous system. Each programme is stabilisation-focused and designed to sit alongside individual therapy.

Parts In Motion

An 8-week in-person movement and parts awareness group

Parts in Motion integrates Internal Family Systems with trauma-sensitive movement. This group supports participants to gently reconnect with their bodies while developing awareness of protective parts and nervous system responses.

It is suitable for those who feel disconnected from their bodies, overwhelmed by anxiety, or unsure how to regulate in daily life. The emphasis is on safety, choice, and slow reconnection.

Term 2: 29th April - 17th June

Term 3: 29th July - 16th September

Term 4: 21st October - 9th December

More Details In Our Brochure

Healing, Harmony, and Flow

An  8-week online mindful movement group

Healing, Harmony, and Flow supports emotional regulation through gentle somatic practices, breath awareness, and mindfulness. This group is grounded in trauma-sensitive practice and supports participants to build internal calm and stability. It is particularly helpful for those experiencing hyper vigilance, chronic stress, or difficulty settling their nervous system.

Term 2: 30th April - 18th June

Term 3: 30th July - 17th September

Term 4: 22nd October - 10th December

More Details In Our Brochure

Relational Safety

Understanding Healthy Relationships Following Sexual Trauma

Relational Safety is a one-day structured therapeutic group focused on relational trauma. Grounded in Internal Family Systems and autonomic nervous system regulation, it supports participants to understand protective relational patterns, boundaries, consent, and healthy connection.

This group is educational and stabilisation-focused. The emphasis is on relational understanding, self-led awareness, and rebuilding safety in connection.

Term 1: 27th March Term 2: 23rd April

Term 3: 23rd July Term 4: 17th December

More Details In Our Brochure

Coming Soon

Safe to Be Here

A three-day in-person female-only therapeutic immersion

Safe to Be Here is a three-day trauma-informed retreat designed to deepen nervous system safety, relational connection, and internal steadiness. This programme expands on the principles of Internal Family Systems, trauma-sensitive yoga, emotional eating and sleep hygiene, offering extended time for integration, reflection, and embodied practice within a carefully held therapeutic environment.

Dates for terms 2, 3 and 4 will be released soon

Who These Groups Are For

The Holding Space groups are designed for adults who have experienced sexual or relational trauma and want to deepen their understanding of themselves in a structured and supportive group environment. These programmes are particularly suited to those who are seeking greater stability, relational clarity, and nervous system regulation rather than trauma processing.

Participants are expected to be currently engaged in individual therapy with an approved ACC therapist and to have an accepted ACC Sensitive Claim. Group work is intended to complement, not replace, individual therapy. Ongoing one-to-one support provides an important foundation, ensuring that anything stirred in the group can be integrated safely and with continuity of care.

These groups are most beneficial for individuals who are emotionally stable enough to participate in a shared space and who are ready to reflect on relational patterns, protective responses, and nervous system experiences in a contained and structured way. You do not need to feel completely confident or steady, but you do need to feel sufficiently supported.

The Holding Space is not designed for acute crisis or for processing traumatic memories in depth. It is a stabilisation-focused environment that prioritises safety, regulation, and understanding. If you are unsure whether a group is right for you, we welcome a conversation with you and your therapist to explore suitability.

"This was a gentle but powerful exploration of my inner world, assisting me to connect with parts of myself and meet them where they are with openness and curiosity. It helped me to foster a greater appreciation for myself and to act with more kindness going forward."

- Group Participant

"I've found myself more self-aware of my physical triggers, where they originate from, and to show them kindness and work on healing them. I've been much calmer and have been able to calm down the overwhelming feeling when it gets activated, which I had not been able to do prior to attending the group"

- Group Participant

"I found everything to be calm and inviting. All of the women were lovely and understanding. This is something I'm keen to do again in the future. I highly recommend the Parts In Motion group. I found it enlightening and healing"

- Group Participant

How to Join a Group

If you are interested in attending one of The Holding Space groups, the first step is to speak with your therapist. Your therapist will contact your Recovery Partner to request approval for the specific group. Once approval is confirmed, we will arrange a brief screening conversation to ensure the group is the right fit and that you feel supported.

If you are a therapist considering referral, please review the relevant brochure and contact your client’s Recovery Partner to request approval. Once approved, you are welcome to contact us directly to confirm suitability and registration.

Our Approach

The Holding Space is our ACC-funded therapeutic group environment. It is a structured and carefully facilitated space designed with safety as its foundation. The atmosphere is calm, predictable, and intentionally paced so that nothing feels rushed or overwhelming. From the outset, the focus is on steadiness and containment rather than intensity or pressure.

Our work weaves together Internal Family Systems principles, nervous system awareness, trauma-sensitive yoga foundations, meditation, and an understanding of relational trauma. We recognise that protective patterns develop for good reasons and that the body often responds before the mind has words. We hold the understanding that safety must come before depth, and that regulation and awareness create the conditions for meaningful change. There is no requirement to share personal history, and there is no pressure to disclose experiences. Participants are supported to notice their own internal experience at a pace that feels manageable.

Throughout the group, we incorporate gentle regulation practices, parts awareness, breath work, and structured reflection. Each session has clear beginnings and endings, with breaks intentionally built in to support integration during our 3-day retreat. Support remains available throughout. The space is relational without being exposing. You are alongside others in a shared therapeutic environment, yet you are not required to perform connection or vulnerability. The groups are small enough to feel contained and structured enough to feel predictable.

The Holding Space is not about fixing what is wrong. It is about creating the conditions in which your nervous system can begin to experience steadiness, where protective responses can gradually soften, and where internal clarity can emerge. It is a place where healing is held, not forced.

 

Alessandra is a registered mental health occupational therapist and a certified Trauma Sensitive Yoga facilitator, having completed her training through the Trauma Research Foundation, founded by Bessel van der Kolk. She brings a strong clinical and functional lens to body-based practice, with particular expertise in autonomic nervous system regulation, sensory integration, daily structure, and trauma-informed movement. Alessandra supports participants in reconnecting with their bodies in ways that feel safe, choice-led, and empowering, while helping them translate embodied awareness into practical changes in everyday life.

 

Rebecca brings over 30 years of experience in the health and well-being space, beginning her career as a registered nurse before moving into yoga and meditation teaching. She has completed more than 1,000 hours of training across Australia, India, and New Zealand and has 15 years of teaching experience. Rebecca is a certified Dru Yoga teacher, Dru Meditation teacher, and Dru Breath Work Coach, registered with the Dru Professional Network. She brings a calm, steady presence to her work, supporting participants to develop breath awareness, gentle regulation, and embodied ease in ways that feel accessible and safe.

 

Angela is a trauma therapist who works primarily with Internal Family Systems, supporting people to understand their internal world and build a compassionate relationship with the parts of themselves shaped by relational and sexual trauma. She has trained with the Trauma Research Foundation, through the IFS Institute with Richard Schwartz, in the Safe and Sound Protocol developed by Stephen Porges, with polyvagal applications informed by Deb Dana, and in sex therapy with Tammy Nelson. She brings a relational, grounded, and respectful approach to trauma recovery and creates a safe place for people to land.

Q & A For Therapists

Q & A For Clients