At the start of the summer, I ran a pandemic processing small group. It was once a week, pay as you can, and focused on talking about different topics of the pandemic each week.

It was not well attended. I do not take this personally. First, summer. Second, pandemic – who wants to talk about that? Nobody. Third, my first group as a Trauma Recovery Coach. I was happy with whoever showed interest and showed up; I feel deeply grateful.

Obviously, though, some things needed to change if I wanted to keep going with a small group for pandemic support where we don’t talk about the pandemic. And I do want to keep going.

My Passion for Small Groups

As a trauma survivor, I’ve been in small groups before and have liked them, but never so much as I did this last year. The pandemic has – duh – been incredibly difficult on my mental health. PTSD Remediation helped, but my anxiety and depression play their own games.

I ended up in the local hospital’s Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for a month, attending small group sessions several times a week over Zoom.

I loved it. I loved seeing people on a regular basis. Talking about shared topics. Expressing emotions and feelings in a safe place.

I loved not feeling so alone.

As I finished up my initial Trauma Recovery Coaching program and pursued certification, I decided that I wanted to provide that kind of supportive experience for others, especially during the pandemic.

Finding My Voice

Using your voice is an essential part of recovery for a trauma survivor. Finding your voice, though – that is just as tricky a process.

I’ve been trying to figure out my voice with Trauma Recovery Coaching. Creating Map Your Healing Journey as my business has been a stretch for me. What is my purpose? What is the purpose of my business? What do I want my future and current clients to know about me?

How do I communicate who I authentically am as a person and a Trauma Recovery Coach…without turning people away? How can I be myself and be professional? Is that even possible?

My Authentic Self

At one point in my college career, a professor told me, “Your challenge is that you are good at a lot of things. Not one thing in particular.” Yes, humble brag, I get it. But also true.

I have a quirky and weird personality. Highly sensitive and a true angry Scorpio. I talk about grief and loss in one breath and penii and poop in another, all without shame. Deeply silly and very smart and serious. Light and heavy. Funny and somber. A trauma recovery specialist and a comedian.

At one point in writing my web copy, a friend read it and said, “If I read this, I would think you were unprofessional.”

This is good feedback. I don’t want my first impression to be unprofessional. Also, I’m weird, and I need to be authentic. I mean, I don’t want to mislead anyone by projecting too much of a professional demeanor.

I need to be myself. What a relief!

A More Honest Small Group

My co-facilitator and I met to discuss the pandemic small group experience. We asked ourselves what we could have done differently and better, what we liked, and what needed to change.

Out of this fruitful conversation, the BRA: Bringing Relief Always small group was born. Our tagline is: We Lift Each Other Up!

It’s fun. Sincere. Open. Confidential. Organic.

Will we talk about the pandemic? Maybe. Will we talk and share and find some light in the middle of this darkness? Absolutely.

And we will be ourselves. Authentically.

Interested in the upcoming Fall BRA small group? Sign up here for more info:

I am passionate about connection! Let’s stay connected on the interwebs! Sign up for email or join me on Facebook and Instagram!