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The Heal & Self Advocacy Hub is a specialist online community for women navigating domestic abuse, designed intentionally differently from traditional online support groups.
This is not a space where individuals offload fears and traumatic experiences into posts or comment threads. While connection and validation are essential, unmoderated emotional disclosures within online forums can unintentionally retraumatise others and intensify distress.
Instead, the Hub provides structured, trauma-informed support.
Connection and emotional processing take place safely via facilitated Zoom sessions, where women can speak, offload and feel heard without the ongoing exposure to potentially triggering content within the community feed.
This structure also strengthens digital safety. In cases of domestic abuse, perpetrators are known to monitor online activity — including under false identities — and may attempt to misuse publicly shared information. By limiting open-thread disclosures and hosting live, moderated sessions instead, we reduce the risk of sensitive information being accessed or used in harmful ways.
Safeguarding and psychological safety are central to the design of the Hub.
Daily posts within the Hub focus on pattern interruption, gently guiding the mind towards clarity, self-worth and stabilising thoughts. When someone is entrenched in chaos and uncertainty, positivity can feel inaccessible.
These guided prompts help restore perspective and emotional balance with intention and care.
Resources Available Within the Hub
Members have access to a structured library of practical tools and guidance, including:
Until funding allows expansion, support sessions will run on a structured but less frequent schedule. Our aim is to grow towards twice-daily availability as the platform develops.
Family Law Guidance Clinics
Delivered by a highly experienced family law professional specialising in domestic abuse cases, taking a trauma-informed approach to practice. These clinics provide clarity around legal processes and practical next steps.
Risk Awareness Clinics
Designed to clarify risk where concern is present. These sessions explore:
Connection Calls
Weekly facilitated connection sessions provide a structured and safe space for discussion.
Each session centres on a specific theme. Participants are placed into small breakout groups to explore the topic in a contained and supported environment. A facilitator moves between groups to ensure safety and emotional wellbeing.
Cameras must remain on during these sessions to protect participant safety and maintain safeguarding standards. Safety is paramount, and those unable to comply with this requirement will be removed from the session.
These weekly connection sessions align with our guided resilience-building and regulation sessions, which will initially run daily and expand to twice daily as the platform grows.
We will also offer in-person connection and co-regulation days exclusively for Hub members.
For safety reasons, these events will not be publicly advertised or shared on the main community feed. Details will instead be communicated during online connection calls, where participant identity is verified and safeguarding protocols are in place.
These events will not run on a fixed schedule and will depend on funding availability.
Each in-person day will focus on:
Group-based nervous system regulation and conditioning
Emotional literacy development
Trauma pattern recognition and behavioural insight
Structured co-regulation exercises in a facilitated environment
The aim is to provide a safe, contained space for stabilisation, learning and connection.
Refreshments and food will be provided to ensure participants feel supported throughout the day.
Your exit plan is an important process to consider when leaving any abusive relationship. Quite often when an abusive partner realises you are planning on leaving, the abuse can escalate, but not only does the emotional abuse increase, but this is also the time physical safety is compromised. An exit plan is designed to help you consider all your options and implement steps to limit the risk to yourself or your children.
Your safety and well-being are my top priorities. We provide expert guidance and support to help you safeguard yourself and your family appropriately. From safety planning to legal advocacy, we are here to ensure you have the resources and support you need to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Hosted by Kate Beesley in partnership with UK Health Radio. The Domestic Abuse Breakthrough Show aims to educate, empower and provide hope to those impacted by abuse related crimes.
Kate is joined every week by fellow experts in the field of trauma and violence against women and girls, as well as hearing lots of survivor stories to provide that essential seed of hope.
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