Breaking Beyond Barriers: A New Approach to Trauma Recovery in Kingston

The Community Foundation for Kingston & Area has taken a significant step in supporting individuals living with trauma by funding a new 30-week pilot program, Breaking Beyond Barriers, at the Centre for Abuse and Trauma Therapy. Now in its tenth week, the program is already making a difference for participants.

"This is a pilot," explains Joan Boyd, one of the centre's founders. "We're in week 10 of 30, and it's amazing to watch people sort of get things and try to use the new skills. Even now, they're saying, 'I tried this, and it really worked.' We're celebrating as their life is changing, and it's only week 10. We think this is going to be amazing by the time we get to 30."

The program is based on the "Finding Solid Ground" model and was offered to individuals on the centre's waitlist. "We sent it out to the first 16, and then as people responded, we filled out the groups," Joan explains. Each participant undergoes assessments before, during, and after the program to measure its impact.

Breaking Beyond Barriers focuses on grounding and stabilization skills, crucial for those with trauma. "The first skills we work on are grounding skills, being in the here and now," Joan says. "A lot of people who have trauma experience dissociation, that spaced-out feeling. We're working on grounding them to be present, instead of living in the past." The program also covers separating past from present, managing overwhelming feelings, and building healthy relationships.

“The need for such specialized support is clear,” Joan explains. “People are ending up in the hospital, attempting suicide, or using a lot of community resources because of being overwhelmed and not stabilized."

The $25,000 funding from the Community Foundation has been critical. "It's most of the budget," Joan says. "We do charge a fee, but there were some people who just couldn't pay. Their part of the money is coming out of the grant and also from the centre."

The centre operates with a team of eight therapists and a strong commitment to accessibility. "We have a very generous sliding scale," Joan explains. "People who are more financially able offset those who pay less.  Our agency runs on the minimum fee necessary and still keep the doors open.  The lowest fees are also partially covered by funding from the United Way, which partners with us on the Client Assistance Program (CAP).”

As the program continues, the team is optimistic. "When you start working through the trauma, you now have room for other opportunities," Joan says. "We're seeing people go back to school, get jobs, start volunteering. Once you process it, your brain isn't full of this pain from the past anymore."

Breaking Beyond Barriers is not just a program, it's a lifeline, offering hope and practical skills to those who need it most