Soma Skills Program at Transgender Victoria

Funded by and delivered in partnership with Transgender Victoria (TGV), this online program supported trans and gender-diverse young people to foster body-based regulation.

“Thanks so much for this program, we really appreciate the work you do! It is not often that you see properly trauma-informed programs that are inclusive of [trans & gender-diverse] folk, as well as being underpinned by anti-colonial values. This kind of work is so important.”

LJ, Peer Support Program Manager at Transgender Victoria.

Our Partner

TGV is Victoria’s leading body for trans and gender-diverse advocacy, training, and resource development. TGV works to achieve justice, equity and inclusive service provision for trans and gender-diverse people, their partners, families and friends.

As part of their year-long Inspire Program, TGV requested an online iteration of Soma Skills, adapted for young people across Kulin Country.

The Program

  • For 8 weeks, we delivered our Soma Skills Program online over Zoom for one hour per week.

    This program was delivered online to enable young people across outer metropolitan and regional areas to participate.

    Soma Skills is a group work program integrating mindfulness and movement-based practices to support young people with self-regulation, stress-relief and social connection. This program was designed to be inclusive of and responsive to the lived experiences of young trans and gender-diverse participants.

  • For young people aged 16-21 years who were completing year 12 or balancing work and other commitments.

  • Collective Being Facilitator, Anu, worked collaboratively with our Facilitator Manager to adapt the curriculum of Soma Skills for a youth-responsive, online format.

    Integrating their skills as a senior trauma-informed yoga and embodiment facilitator with their lived experience, Anu delivered the program with inclusive movement, agency, and choice-making.

The Outcomes

Program participants reflected that this online program was informative and supportive, and that Anu provided a warm and welcoming environment for those new to somatics.

In addition to this program, Collective Being have partnered with TGV for workshop delivery, and we continue to prioritise and support the work TGV does in our community.

What Participants Say

  • “I liked the program since it was informative and showed me practices that were particularly helpful for managing stress. I also liked how the program gave me a chance to disconnect and focus on how I was feeling and it was good for re-centring after being busy.”

  • “I feel warm and calm in my body now”

  • “I always get emotional when I do the self-holding practice which is nice to notice.”

  • “I like the ‘shhhh breath practice’, it’s so calming.”

  • “I was tired and didn’t want to do anything before but after this session I feel I can.”

  • “I feel more energised and re-calibrated after the session and my post-exam headache I had at the beginning of the session is gone now.”

  • “I’ve been doing some of the practices when I feel anxious throughout my week and it brings me back”

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