Blossom Women’s Recovery Group Syllabus
This 12-week trauma recovery syllabus is tailored specifically for women and integrates evidence-based psychological tools with a Christian theological framework. We focus on unique challenges women face—such as relational wounds, shame, and identity distortions—while anchoring healing in God's grace, Scripture, and community. Scripture readings, reflection questions, and journaling exercises are incorporated each week to provide additional opportunities for spiritual, emotional, cognitive, and physical healing.
Phase 1: Safety, Grounding, and Identity in Christ (Weeks 1-4)
Week 1: Foundations of Healing & Creating Safety.
- Establishing group safety guidelines.
- Exploring how trauma impacts the female body, mind, and spirit to include understanding how the brain and body process trauma.
Week 2: Unmasking Shame & Reclaiming Identity.
- Addressing the unique ways women carry trauma-induced shame and replacing it with your true identity in Christ.
- Learning to name emotional states and recognize how they affect your physiology and thoughts.
Week 3: Holy Grounding & Emotional Regulation.
- Learning physiological calming techniques alongside spiritual disciplines like breath prayer and Christian meditation.
- Introducing breathing, mindfulness, and sensory-based exercises to prevent emotional flooding.
Week 4: Navigating Difficult Emotions.
- Processing anger, fear, and sorrow safely while exploring biblical examples of lament, such as the Psalms and Lamentations.
- Learning to sit with intense physical and emotional discomfort without resorting to avoidance behaviors.
Phase 2: Cognitive Renewal and Relational Boundaries (Weeks 5-8)
Week 5: Renewing the Mind.
- Identifying trauma-based thought patterns and practicing the biblical mandate to captive unhelpful thoughts.
- Identifying negative or trauma-based thinking traps and understanding how they shape your current reality.
Week 6: Redefining Trust & Discernment.
- Rebuilding the capacity to assess safety in others after betrayal or abuse, rooted in wisdom rather than fear.
- Learning to reframe unhelpful thoughts and distinguish between past trauma responses and present-day safety.
Week 7: Setting Biblical Boundaries.
- Overcoming people-pleasing tendencies and learning to say a healthy, as a reflection of God-given stewardship.
- Exploring how past experiences influence your trust, boundaries, and expectations of others.
Week 8: Forgiveness vs. Reconciliation.
- Disentangling the theological mandate to forgive from the practical, safety-based choice to reconcile or maintain distance.
- Learning communication strategies to handle difficult relationships, power dynamics, and boundary issues.
(Remembering that these two lists can exist at the same time.)
Phase 3: Processing, Grief, and Spiritual Reconstruction (Weeks 9-12)
Week 9: Honors in the Valley (Story Work).
- Safely sharing and witnessing fragments of each other’s stories, bringing
hidden pain into the healing light of community.
- Practicing how to ask for what you need, assert boundaries, and foster
flexibility in relationships.
Week 10: Sacred Grief & Mourning Losses.
- Honoring the losses trauma caused—lost years, lost innocence, or lost relationships—and allowing God to comfort the brokenhearted.
- Safely revisiting fragmented memories in a structured way to reduce their emotional intensity (often called exposure work).
Week 11: Breaking Generational Patterns.
- Examining family-of-origin dynamics to stop cycles of trauma and establish a new legacy of spiritual and emotional health.
- Acknowledging the losses associated with trauma and learning how to
process grief in a healthy manner.
Week 12: Resurrection Life & Moving Forward.
- Celebrating freedom, establishing a sustainable self-care and spiritual
growth plan, and stepping into your God-given purpose.
- Creating an ongoing self-care, relapse prevention, and growth plan to
move forward authentically.
Women’s Group Covenant & Guidelines
Welcome to a sacred, confidential space dedicated to emotional healing, spiritual
growth, and community. To ensure every participant feels safe to share her story, we
ask all members to commit to the following guidelines:
1. Absolute Confidentiality: What is said in the group stays in the group. Who you see here stays here. Sharing another member's story outside this room—even with a spouse or prayer partner—is a violation of trust.
2. No Cross-Talk or Fixing: We are here to witness and validate each other’s journeys, not to fix, advise, or correct. When someone is speaking, listen with your heart. Do not interrupt or offer unprompted advice.
3. Own Your Share Time: With only 60 minutes, time passes quickly. Be mindful of how much space you take up. Aim to keep your sharing focused on the weekly topic to allow every woman an opportunity to speak.
4. Freedom to Pass: You always have the right to pass on a question or exercise. Healing cannot be forced, and your boundaries are fully respected here.
5. Respect Diverse Journeys: We are all at different stages of spiritual and emotional growth. We commit to practicing grace, avoiding judgment, and honoring each woman's unique relationship with God.
6. Commitment to Attendance: Healing happens in community. Your presence
matters to the other women in this room. Please make every effort to arrive on time and attend all 12 weeks.
Participant Commitment:
“By participating, I agree to honor these guidelines to help maintain a safe, Christ-centered sanctuary for myself and my sisters in Christ.”
