QUESTION: My gender is different from ‘man’ – can I access your services?
ANSWER: Men and Trauma’s services are set up to cater for men and masculine people – but sometimes people who are transitioning away from masculinity or identify as another marginalised gender have also found our services helpful.
Give us a call and we can talk through your situation. If we are not the best service then we can help you find one that is.
QUESTION: Will the facilitator understand dysphoria?
ANSWER: The facilitator will have some understanding of dysphoria, but will not know the particular ways that you experience it.
You are welcome to share this with either the facilitator or the group at any time, or you can talk about it with someone else at Men and Trauma. We want to make sure you are cared for, and we will talk with you about how to best manage this.
QUESTION: Do you have disability access?
ANSWER: We are wheelchair accessible and have a lift to our services. We are currently working with other organisations to improve our accessibility – please let us know what your needs are and we will work with you.
QUESTION: Is there anything specifically set up for Takatāpui?
ANSWER: If you would like to access Takatāpui peer support we will try to facilitate this. However, our groups are currently set up as open to all ethnicities, sexualities and masculine genders.
QUESTION: How do you make the space inclusive?
ANSWER: We are frequently updating our materials and resources to ensure they are inclusive.
More importantly though, you will hear inclusive language and practice from our facilitators and peer support workers, and you should be able to see yourself reflected in our service, from our Board through to our volunteers.
We have specifically created a Rainbow Liaison role to ensure that we are listening to communities and getting this right.
QUESTION: What training have you had about Rainbow communities?
ANSWER: Our focus has been on immersing ourselves *within* the communities we are supporting – engaging with and talking with Rainbow communities, and employing people who are part of these communities.
This immersion engagement means our training and professional development is an everyday part of our work, rather than a one-off workshop.
QUESTION: What age do you have to be to access Men and Trauma’s services?
ANSWER: Any age.
QUESTION: Can I bring a support person?
ANSWER: Absolutely, support people are welcome for one to one peer support and initial meetings. Group meetings are for survivors.
QUESTION: What if I know other people in a group?
ANSWER: This is always a possibility, and is a normal fear that everyone has.
However, group attendance is completely confidential, and everyone is there on their own healing journey.
If you are uncomfortable with a person in the group, you can talk to the facilitator about it and attend a different group if you would prefer.
QUESTION: What are the group processes?
ANSWER: Our groups always start with a round of introductions. We check in with how people are feeling and set up some ground rules – using ‘I’ statements and not using ‘should’ statements.
People can discuss things they are struggling with in their own lives. We do not discuss the abuse that actually happened for our members, as this is distressing to tell and to listen to. Instead, we focus on the daily struggles and provide support for the journey.
QUESTION: How can I give feedback?
ANSWER: We want to know if we are getting this right – and if we are not! If you would like to give us feedback you can fill in our online feedback form, or you can follow our complaints process.
We want to accept feedback in any way you are comfortable giving it to us, whether that is face-to-face with someone in the organisation you feel comfortable with, or whether it is by email.
We will treat it confidentially and seriously, and we appreciate the opportunity it gives us to improve our services. Please feel free to contact us at any time, in the way that best suits you.
ANSWER: Men and Trauma’s services are set up to cater for men and masculine people – but sometimes people who are transitioning away from masculinity or identify as another marginalised gender have also found our services helpful.
Give us a call and we can talk through your situation. If we are not the best service then we can help you find one that is.
QUESTION: Will the facilitator understand dysphoria?
ANSWER: The facilitator will have some understanding of dysphoria, but will not know the particular ways that you experience it.
You are welcome to share this with either the facilitator or the group at any time, or you can talk about it with someone else at Men and Trauma. We want to make sure you are cared for, and we will talk with you about how to best manage this.
QUESTION: Do you have disability access?
ANSWER: We are wheelchair accessible and have a lift to our services. We are currently working with other organisations to improve our accessibility – please let us know what your needs are and we will work with you.
QUESTION: Is there anything specifically set up for Takatāpui?
ANSWER: If you would like to access Takatāpui peer support we will try to facilitate this. However, our groups are currently set up as open to all ethnicities, sexualities and masculine genders.
QUESTION: How do you make the space inclusive?
ANSWER: We are frequently updating our materials and resources to ensure they are inclusive.
More importantly though, you will hear inclusive language and practice from our facilitators and peer support workers, and you should be able to see yourself reflected in our service, from our Board through to our volunteers.
We have specifically created a Rainbow Liaison role to ensure that we are listening to communities and getting this right.
QUESTION: What training have you had about Rainbow communities?
ANSWER: Our focus has been on immersing ourselves *within* the communities we are supporting – engaging with and talking with Rainbow communities, and employing people who are part of these communities.
This immersion engagement means our training and professional development is an everyday part of our work, rather than a one-off workshop.
QUESTION: What age do you have to be to access Men and Trauma’s services?
ANSWER: Any age.
QUESTION: Can I bring a support person?
ANSWER: Absolutely, support people are welcome for one to one peer support and initial meetings. Group meetings are for survivors.
QUESTION: What if I know other people in a group?
ANSWER: This is always a possibility, and is a normal fear that everyone has.
However, group attendance is completely confidential, and everyone is there on their own healing journey.
If you are uncomfortable with a person in the group, you can talk to the facilitator about it and attend a different group if you would prefer.
QUESTION: What are the group processes?
ANSWER: Our groups always start with a round of introductions. We check in with how people are feeling and set up some ground rules – using ‘I’ statements and not using ‘should’ statements.
People can discuss things they are struggling with in their own lives. We do not discuss the abuse that actually happened for our members, as this is distressing to tell and to listen to. Instead, we focus on the daily struggles and provide support for the journey.
QUESTION: How can I give feedback?
ANSWER: We want to know if we are getting this right – and if we are not! If you would like to give us feedback you can fill in our online feedback form, or you can follow our complaints process.
We want to accept feedback in any way you are comfortable giving it to us, whether that is face-to-face with someone in the organisation you feel comfortable with, or whether it is by email.
We will treat it confidentially and seriously, and we appreciate the opportunity it gives us to improve our services. Please feel free to contact us at any time, in the way that best suits you.
