Hands of Resilience is an 8-session group counseling experience inspired by My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem. This trauma-informed space integrates body awareness, resilience-building, and collective healing. Designed for BIPOC individuals, the group explores emotional regulation and cultural healing through embodied practices and community connection. Together, we create a supportive environment for processing historical and generational trauma.
● Start Date: March 17, 2025 – May 5, 2025
● Schedule: Mondays, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (8 weeks)
● Format: Virtual
● Facilitators: Rach Junard & Jamal Pearce
● For: Individuals 18+
We accept insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Kaiser Permanente, Cigna, and Providence. The out-of-pocket cost is $15 per session.
Group Overview – 4 Phases:
Phase 1: Explore the Connections Between the Body and Trauma
In the first two sessions, participants will establish a safe and supportive space while exploring the connection between trauma and the body.
- Session 1: Welcome & Setting the Stage – This session introduces the group, sets intentions, and establishes safety through group norms and discussion of My Grandmother’s Hands. Participants will learn about trauma’s impact on BIPOC communities and engage in grounding techniques like deep breathing and body scans.
- Session 2: The Body as a Container for Trauma – This session focuses on how trauma is stored in the body. Participants will discuss embodied trauma, reflect on personal and collective experiences, and engage in somatic exercises and journaling to deepen self-awareness and release tension.
Phase 2: Healing Trauma
- Session 3: The Roots of Trauma – Participants will explore historical and generational trauma, understanding how it is passed down and its effects on present experiences. Discussions will focus on clean pain vs. dirty pain (Menakem’s framework), with reflections on generational patterns through journaling, reading, and safe-touch embodiment practices.
- Session 4: Collective Healing – This session emphasizes the power of community in healing trauma. Through group discussions, somatic exercises, and guided meditation, participants will explore the importance of connection, co-regulation, and witnessing each other’s stories in a supportive space.
Phase 3: Building Resilience
- Session 5: Navigating Emotional Triggers – Participants will learn to recognize emotional triggers and understand the body’s fight, flight, and freeze responses. Through discussions, grounding techniques, and journaling, they will explore healthier ways to cope with emotional overwhelm.
- Session 6: Resilience and Strength Building – This session focuses on cultivating inner resilience and strength. Participants will engage in discussions, empowering somatic practices (such as power poses and heart-centered breathing), and a group affirmation exercise to reinforce personal and collective resilience.
Phase 4: Integrating Healing & Closing
- Session 7: Integrating Healing Practices – Participants will reflect on their personal growth and explore practical ways to continue their healing journey beyond the group. Discussions, journaling, and somatic self-care rituals will encourage long-term healing and accountability.
- Session 8: Closing & Celebration – The final session focuses on reflection, gratitude, and setting future intentions. Participants will celebrate their progress, share experiences, and engage in a closing ceremony with meditation and a gratitude circle to honor their journey.
Facilitators
Rach Junard
I am passionate about working with individuals and couples who may live with complex trauma, and/or are first generation immigrants, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and queer, and gender nonconforming persons. I recognize the importance one’s contexts has on their lived experiences and see the interaction between systems and people. I am passionate about working with clients who are first generation and deal with anxiety. I also work with clients who have experienced racial trauma, generational trauma, and those going through identity changes around sex and gender.
Jamal Pearce
I firmly believe that heightened awareness fosters the strength and courage needed to effect meaningful life changes. By taking accountability for what we can change and honing the skills to accept what we cannot, we become more adept custodians of our mental well-being. It’s an honor for me to have you consider my bio, as it signals the beginning of your courageous pursuit of transformative change. I hope to be granted the privilege of accompanying you on this journey.