Background
Stabilisation groups are widely used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder; however, insight into their perceived value and impact on clients remains limited. This qualitative service evaluation explored how clients experience and interpret a trauma stabilisation group intervention offered by an inner-city community service, and what meanings they attribute to its content and format.
Methods
Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted over video call with people allocated to the intervention. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis within a social constructionist framework.
Results
Nine individuals participated in the evaluation. Three themes were identified: (1) understanding and accepting myself: content and community, highlighing perceived gains from the group content and interpersonal process, (2) engagement with the format: trauma sharing and practicalities, reflecting ambivalence and tensions around disclosure and practical factors impacting engagement, and (3) completing the group: pride and moving on, expressing pride and hopefulness alongside uncertainties for the future. Absences in participants’ narratives were also explored to interpret findings in light of potential methodological and systemic influences.
Conclusion
Participants shared perceived gains related to group content and interpersonal processes, describing improved coping and self-compassion. However, their experience can be impacted by the group set up, disclosures, and the positioning of stabilisation in recovery pathways. The findings also illustrated how established trauma recovery frameworks operated within this service context. Future work could include larger-scale cross-service evaluations, integration of qualitative and quantitative outcomes, and targeted efforts to explore the voices of those who experience systemic barriers to engagement.
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