What is the 7 ROSES Empowerment programme?

The 7 ROSES Empowerment programme (Seven Recovery Orientated Survivor Empowerment Strategies) supports the recovery process of individuals/groups who have witnessed or experienced a life changing, distressing or traumatic event. The 7 ROSES programme enables and equips participants to make contact in the 'here and the now,' to become more resilient and to regain control of their lives.

The 7 ROSES programme can be helpful when:

The method is applicable for various groups that have experienced or witnessed a traumatic, distressing or a life changing event, such as:

• Victims of war and human rights violations, such as refugees
• (Ex) professionals in high-risk professions, including frontline workers and first responders.
• (Psychosocial) care providers, for example in youth care, hospitals, victim support
• Humanitarian workers
• People with post traumatic stress disorder

Outline of the sessions:

The method consists of a flexible toolkit of up to 14 sessions and can be offered in groups or individually.

The essence of this programme is to encourage the participants to take an active role in their own recovery. At the start of each session, the participant/s themselves determine by means of a 'Topic Selection' which of the seven "pillars" are important to them at that time, and the programme is built up on the basis of that need. Each pillar includes an activity or exercise, where new skills are practised or new insights are developed. The activities can include creative expression like drawing, breathing exercises, role playing and many more.

The seven pillars that will be discussed include:

1. Connectedness
2. Hope
3. Identity
4. Meaning
5. Empowerment
6. Recognition
7. Safety

The programme is carried out in sessions of 1 hour (individual) or 2.5 hours (group). The frequency of the sessions and the total number of sessions are adjusted to the setting. If applicable, interpreters are deployed. The content of the sessions can also be adapted to the participant/s needs, for example when certain exercises are not feasible due to physical limitations.

The 7 ROSES has been designed in such a way that the method is applicable to different target groups and in different contexts: within or outside (mental) health care facilities, social institutions, care centres etc. The participant/s can be of any origin and culture, and can also be implemented before, during or after any psychiatric, psychological or psychosocial treatment.

Please do not hesitate to contact the play express for more information.