Healing Garden for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Abstract

The development and impacts of participation in a healing garden group for survivors of interpersonal violence were studied. The healing garden group focused on reconnection with self, others, and community as outlined in Judith Herman’s Trauma and Recovery. Using Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) methodology, a healing garden group was developed with four survivors, including the author as a participant-researcher. The participants met weekly throughout the summer of 2012 with meetings audio recorded and field notes kept. Data was analyzed using constant comparison analysis (CCA). The gardening group was found to be beneficial to the participants as survivor group for reconnection for those who are further in their healing process. Benefits occurred within two dialectics: trauma and recovery and garden and group. Themes associated with trauma and recovery were safety, remembrance and mourning, and reconnection. Associated with garden and group were anxiety, benefits, and mindfulness.