Our next in-person series will be held:

Mondays November 3rd through December 22nd from 5:30 to 7:00pm.

The session is open to women, trans and non binary people ages 18 an up.

The series will next be offered online in February 2026.

Interested? fill out the the registration form

Description: Healing through Empowerment uses mindfulness techniques, body-based exercises, verbal and physical self-defense techniques, trauma response education, discussion and personal reflection as tools for healing from the trauma of abuse and assault. Participants observe and honor their own responses and preferences as felt in the body and develop practices to identify and express what they want, need, and feel in their own lives. With an emphasis on choice and control, participants explore and gain tools for managing adrenalin and setting and maintaining boundaries while connecting with the body and feeling its strength and stability for safety, healing, and growth.

This multi-week program is designed for survivors of sexual assault and/or abuse and related trauma. Each session is 1.5 hours and has a consistent flow including opening and closing circles, time for verbal and physical practice and ‘tea time’ in which participants take a break, get a beverage, and engage in 20-30 minutes of facilitated discussion prior to the end of class. Confidentiality is strictly maintained and participants collaborate on setting community agreements for the group and are encouraged to engage in the material in the manner and at the pace that works best for them.

PAC has offered Healing through Empowerment in person since 2016 with an online version added in 2020.

Impact of Healing Through Empowerment:

Our Post-Course Evaluations have shown that participants:

Experience a reduction in certain PTSD Symptoms:

  • Having physical reactions (e.g heart pounding, trouble breathing, or sweating) when something reminded one of a stressful experience from the past.
  • Avoiding thinking about or talking about a stressful experience from the past or avoid having feelings related to it.

  • Avoiding activities or situations because they remind one of a stressful experience from the past.

  • Feeling irritable or having angry outbursts

Report that they have gained:

  • Increased connection with their body
  • Increased feelings of safety in daily life
  • New perspectives on healing from trauma
  • Trust in their body, it’s strength and safety
  • Increased ability to express what they want, need, and feel in daily life
  • Set clear boundaries with other people

ESD generally has been shown to contribute to healing by:

  • Creating an environment that is explicitly safe. 
  • Giving participants opportunities to make active choices and express personal boundaries which are respected by others.
  • Teaching new responses to use in stressful situations (active coping).
  • Using mind/body techniques to become more aware of the body’s signals (interoceptive awareness).
  • Providing an opportunity to learn and practice personal safety skills, such as becoming more aware of danger cues and using active responses.
  • Offering safe and comforting experiences of working with others (social connection).
  • (Breklin 2008 and Hollander 2014).

Watch: Webinar with Director Clara Porter on Empowerment Self Defense as a tool for trauma healing.

Note: this interview was recorded before we designed and tested our online version of the series. Participants indicate that they receive as powerful a benefit from the online version as they do in the in-person setting.