Multiple Voices

Sexual Abuse Survivor Group

We have 2 more spaces in the sexual abuse survivor support group that is starting this week at Raeburn House. If you are interested and live in Auckland, here are the details:

Moving Past Sexual Abuse

When: Thursdays, 8 weeks, starts 22 October
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Total Cost: $45
Facilitator: Gudrun Frerichs

This Group creates a safe community of women who share their experiences to recover from the affects of abuse and transform them into strengths. Covers issues of safety, trust, boundaries, assertiveness, self-esteem, relationships, sexuality, and intimacy.

For more information contact Luciana at Raeburn House, phone: (09) 441 8989 or email luciana@raeburnhouse.org.nz.

Protest Against ACC Funding Cuts!

 An open letter to the Minister of ACC has this morning been hand delivered to his office at Parliament. You are invited to read it and if you agree, then to circulate it to whomever you wish. It will provide the basis on which the Minister will be questioned by: Members of Parliament; the media; professional organisations; providers of the services; community groups and above all by clients who at the centre of these changes.   Download Letter To The Minister Of ACC .
 
We emphasise that the changes proposed do not at this stage affect in any way the service provided to current recipients of  counselling through Sensitive Claims Unit of ACC.
 

Whether you represent an organisation or yourself individually, we invite you to decide whether to endorse the message of the Open Letter, written on behalf of some of the most traumatized and vulnerable clients in our therapy practices. 

You can read more about the ACC nightmare on my therapy blog Gudrun Frerichs Dot Com

Life Beyond Trauma Conference October 09

I have been asked by the conference organisers to post the information about this amazing conference on my blog. The conference takes place in October 2009 in Dallas, Texas. It sounds like a great opportunity for professionals, survivors, and Multiples alike to network, get ideas, and get help for the next 'leg' of your recovery! Here it goes: (I have copied the text from their website Life Beyond) check it out if you want to know more.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> read this

Sexual Abuse Help

Just a quick NEWSFLASH!

You might be under the impression that I am having a writing frenzy right now with all these posts being posted on Multiple Voices. Some might even feel familiar... Unfortunately that's not the case.

The thing is, I am stopping the SEXUAL ABUSE HELP blog. In some kind of dissociated, fragmented moment I had the idea that sexual abuse help and multiple stuff needs to be separated. And all the multiples amongst you will probably agree that this logic is perfectly understandable.

However, its hard for me to maintain 3 blogs and do them justice. So I am sending the posts from the SA Help site over to MULTIPLE VOICES. If you haven't read the posts before because you didn't come across them, enjoy reading them.

Have a great week! Gudrun

Poor Medical Treatment Because You Have A Mental Health Diagnosis?

I have just published an interesting post about the discrimination experienced by clients with a mental health diagnosis when they seek medical treatment. Go here to read the post and the article.

Looking Back > Looking Ahead

It's Queens Birthday today in New Zealand. That means we have a day off work and can 'laze around'. I am spending the day endulging in my favourite past-time activity: having a coffee (today it's black, no milk, no sugar) and write after 2 entertaining hours reading 'Psychology Today', and reading what people have posted on the networks I am in. On twitter I saw a video clip posted by Matt Damon (nothing can beat Good Will Hunting) that made me laugh. It gives great insight in how one person can influence a whole bunch of others. One of my facebook connections posted this clip. Look and/or listen to it when you feel like chilling out! It's just gorgeous - the only thing missing is a Gin Tonic and a 15 degree temperature rise > it's freezing out there for the last few days. Get your mittens out, New Zealand!

Relationships & Communication Skills

For some time I have been writing in my blog about relationships, the struggle people have with them, how to relate, what it takes to relate well, and more than anything: how important it is for people's well being that they have meaningful, satisfying relationships.

You might have noticed that I have been a bit 'silent' for a wee while. That had partly to do with my daughter in law sadly losing her long fight with cancer and passing away end of February and everyone coming together to help my son through this awfully hard time. It also had to do with me writing a book about love and relationships - inspired by the strength of their love. Today my book became available and you can check it out by taking a sneak pre-view.

Staying In Love

10 Steps to Success...

By Dr. Gudrun Frerichs

Book Preview

Carnival Edition March 2009: Male Issues

The new edition of the 'Blog Carnival Recovery from Sexual Abuse' is out now. The topic for this month was 'Issues for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse'. Although a lot of issues male survivors have to deal with are similar to those female survivors struggle with, there are also significant differences. I trust you will find the contributions interesting. Follow this link 

Love Is In The Air

Love is a particular difficult emotion for survivors of sexual abuse, because most of the time love becomes contaminated by the abuse. When trust has been broken, often people find it very very difficult to open themselves up to being vulnerable and let another person become important in their lives.

My latest newsletter focuses on love and some of the articles can be found here! If you want to be on my mailing list for my newsletter, sign up using the box in the side panel.

Course: Improving Communication

Do you want to gain a better understanding of how to communicate effectively with your family, workmates, and friends? Learn about the patterns and roles you can fall into and discover choices in the way you communicate.

I am facilitating a course over 8 weeks, Thursdays from 7-9 pm - , at Raeburn House, North Shore Community Health Network, Milford, 138 Shakespeare Road. Contact Raeburn House for starting dates! The total costs are $45.

For enrollment and/or more information ring Raeburn House, 09-4418989

If you live outside of Auckland and would like to get your hands on this popular course, it's now also available as e-home-study-course. You can get your copy HERE

Do you want to gain a better understanding of how to communicate effectively with your family, workmates, and friends? Learn about the patterns and roles you can fall into and discover choices in the way you communicate.

I am facilitating a course over 8 weeks, Thursdays from 7-9 pm - , at Raeburn House, North Shore Community Health Network, Milford, 138 Shakespeare Road. Contact Raeburn House for starting dates! The total costs are $45.

For enrollment and/or more information ring Raeburn House, 09-4418989

If you live outside of Auckland and would like to get your hands on this popular course, it's now also available as e-home-study-course. You can get your copy HERE