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Thomas Road Clinic - Now Open

Resilient Boundaries (Female Only)

A trauma-sensitive group program supporting self-awareness, healthy relationships, and embodied boundary setting.

Boundaries play an important role in our wellbeing, relationships, and sense of self. For many people who have experienced trauma, boundaries can feel confusing, difficult to recognise, or challenging to communicate.

Resilient Boundaries is a compassionate and experiential group program designed to help participants develop a deeper understanding of themselves, strengthen healthy boundaries, and build greater confidence in their relationships.

Through a combination of reflective learning, creative exploration, body-based practices, and group connection, participants are supported to move beyond survival patterns and develop a stronger sense of personal safety, agency, and self-trust.

The program offers a safe and supportive environment to explore how boundaries influence our relationships with ourselves and others, while learning practical tools for creating healthier connections.

Why attend

Participants may experience benefits such as:

  • Developing a stronger sense of self and personal identity

  • Building confidence in recognising and communicating boundaries

  • Increasing feelings of safety and empowerment within relationships

  • Reconnecting with bodily cues and signals of stress, overwhelm, or withdrawal

  • Strengthening self-awareness and embodied decision-making

  • Exploring healthier ways of responding to relationship challenges

  • Developing assertiveness and communication skills

  • Building trust in themselves and others

The program supports participants to recognise their needs, honour their limits, and engage in relationships from a place of greater awareness and choice.

What to Expect

Each session combines experiential learning with practical tools that support both personal insight and relational growth.

Participants will engage in:

Creative Reflection

Guided art therapy activities, journaling, and reflective exercises designed to deepen self-awareness and self-compassion. No artistic experience is required.

Embodied Learning

Gentle experiential practices that help participants connect with internal experiences, bodily sensations, and personal boundaries.

Trauma-Sensitive Movement

Body-based practices that support nervous system regulation, grounding, and reconnection with the body in a safe and supportive way.

Group Discussion and Connection

Opportunities to learn alongside others in a respectful and supportive environment while exploring common experiences and challenges.

Program Themes

The program explores boundaries through two key stages:

Sensing Self

The first stage focuses on developing awareness of your own internal experience and strengthening your connection with yourself.

Topics may include:

  • recognising internal boundary cues

  • developing a stronger sense of self

  • identifying personal limits and needs

  • exploring authenticity and self-expression

  • nervous system regulation

  • reconnecting with the body through somatic practices

Sensing Others

The second stage explores boundaries within relationships and interactions with others.

Topics may include:

  • relational boundaries

  • communication skills

  • interpersonal awareness

  • non-verbal communication

  • navigating relationship dynamics

  • practising healthy boundary setting

A Trauma-Sensitive Approach

Resilient Boundaries is grounded in an understanding that trauma can impact our sense of safety, trust, agency, and connection.

Participants are encouraged to move at their own pace within an environment that prioritises choice, respect, and emotional safety. The focus is not on "getting it right," but on developing greater awareness, self-compassion, and confidence over time.

Program Availability

Resilient Boundaries is offered as:

  • A weekly group program

  • A two-day non-residential retreat format

Participants have the option of attending individual modules or completing the full program, depending on upcoming offerings.

For information about upcoming dates, locations, or eligibility, please contact our team.

Your facilitators

Details

2026 Term dates and times for Nelson & Golden Bay

Term 4 Weekly Course Nelson - Sensing Self

  • Thursday 15 October to 3 December 12.00pm - 1.30pm (Female Only)

Term 4 Weekly Course Nelson - Sensing Other

  • Thursday 15 October to 3 December 930am - 11am (Female Only)

Term 4 Retreat Nelson - Sensing Self

  • Saturday 14 November - 11:00am - 5:30pm

  • Sunday 15 November - 10:00am - 4:30pm

Term 4 Retreat Nelson - Sensing Other

  • Saturday 12 December - 11:00am - 5:30pm

  • Sunday 13 December - 10:00am - 4:30pm

2027 Term dates. Times to be confirmed

Term 1 Retreat Blenheim - Sensing Self

  • Saturday 30 January - Time TBC

  • Sunday 31 January - Time TBC

Term 1 Retreat Wellington - Sensing Self

  • Saturday 20 February - Time TBC

  • Sunday 21 February - Time TBC

Term 1 Retreat Auckland - Sensing Self

  • Saturday 20 March - Time TBC

  • Sunday 21 March - Time TBC

Term 1 Retreat Nelson - Sensing Self

  • Saturday 3 April - Time TBC

  • Sunday 4 April - Time TBC

Term 2 Retreat Blenheim - Sensing Other

  • Saturday 15 May - Time TBC

  • Sunday 16 May - Time TBC

Term 2 Retreat Golden Bay - Sensing Self

  • Saturday 5 June - Time TBC

  • Sunday 6 June - Time TBC

Term 2 Retreat Nelson  - Sensing Other

  • Saturday 26 June- Time TBC

  • Sunday 27 June - Time TBC

Term 3 Retreat Auckland  - Sensing Other

  • Saturday 24 July - Time TBC

  • Sunday 25 July - Time TBC

Term 3 Retreat Wellington  - Sensing Other

  • Saturday 21 August - Time TBC

  • Sunday 22 August - Time TBC

Term 3 Retreat Nelson  - Sensing Self

  • Saturday 18 September- Time TBC

  • Sunday 19 September - Time TBC

Term 4 Retreat Golden Bay  - Sensing Other

  • Saturday 16 October - Time TBC

  • Sunday 17 October - Time TBC

Term 4 Retreat Nelson - Sensing Other

  • Saturday 13 November- Time TBC

  • Sunday 14 November - Time TBC

Term 4 Retreat Wellington  - Sensing Self

  • Saturday 4 December- Time TBC

  • Sunday 5 December - Time TBC

Contact - hester.phillips@nelsonclinic.nz