Space 2 Thrive – Counselling and Trauma service
In August 2021, Coventry City Council and Public Health England, responding to the new Domestic Abuse Act 2021, received grants to pilot various initiatives supporting individuals who have experienced domestic abuse.
Consequently, Space 2 Thrive commenced as a two-year pilot service, collaborating with local domestic abuse commissioners and specialist agencies to provide additional, complementary support activities to individuals accessing safe accommodation, sanctuary schemes, and independent domestic abuse advisory service (IDVA) support.
Referrals to S2T come through a closed pathway from local specialist domestic abuse providers Haven, Panahghar, and Valley House, the Temporary Housing Independent Domestic Violence Advisor, Relationships Coventry and Warwickshire, and the Complex Needs Unit pilot program, delivered through Valley House.
About the service
This acclaimed trauma-informed service leads in providing mental health and wellbeing wrap-around support to individuals aged 18 years and above who have experienced domestic abuse. Delivered by a dedicated team of experienced practitioners, Space 2 Thrive embeds a trauma-informed approach into all support activities, aiming to enhance users’ understanding of trauma’s impact and empower them to manage their trauma responses.
Support is offered flexibly in community venues, decided mutually with users, who may be offered one or more of the following trauma-informed activities:
- One-to-one trauma therapy counselling
- One-to-one wellbeing support and navigation
- Psycho-educational group sessional opportunities
Service provision and interventions
The aims and objectives of S2T are to provide a trauma-informed service that offers psychological wellbeing and/or navigation support and evidence-based trauma therapy to adults who have experienced domestic abuse and trauma (single and multiple incidents).
Wellbeing and group work activities are integrated into the service, accessible pre, during, post, or instead of a one-to-one therapy intervention. This is open to all users who meet the S2T referral criteria, including those transitioning into their own accommodation after accessing S2T.
Space 2 Thrive team
Our team comprises an experienced service manager, trauma therapists/counsellors, wellbeing practitioner and administrator.
TF-CBT Therapists
Trauma Informed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) approach which is integrated into their core counselling practice. They conduct triage and assessments to tailor support interventions to individual needs, typically ranging from 8–12 sessions depending on the presenting criteria and need.
Wellbeing Practitioner (WBP)
The WBP provides up to six sessions, focusing on trauma-related non-clinical mental health and wellbeing work, including:
- Action plans for targeted intervention
- Providing coping strategies and self-management techniques for mental health issues
- Increasing understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on mental health
- Utilising trauma-informed approaches such as relaxation techniques and psychoeducation
- Navigation and signposting to appropriate services
Learn 2 Thrive (L2T)
L2T educational group sessions, led by a TF-CBT Therapist and co-facilitator, aim to:
- Reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress, low mood, and anxiety
- Improve psychological, emotional, physical, and social wellbeing
- Prevent further mental health deterioration and reduce referrals to higher-tier interventions
- Increase awareness of local support services
- Support referral agencies through mental health advice and signposting
For general enquiries about Space2Thrive, please email space2thrive@cwmind.org.uk