Stepping Stones: A Creative Journey to Empowerment
- Apr 24
- 4 min read
Updated: May 9
The Stepping Stones program, which ran from February 4 to March 29, 2025, provided a safe and supportive space for survivors of domestic violence. Over ten sessions in eight weeks, participants focused on rebuilding their confidence and fostering emotional safety. This trauma-informed program blended creative expression, psychoeducation, and reflective practices to enhance recovery efforts.
Measurable Impact: Quantitative Outcomes
Assessing the impact of recovery programs like Stepping Stones can be difficult, particularly when there are limited resources for evaluation. Nevertheless, Broken to Brilliant remains dedicated to gathering meaningful feedback from participants. This input helps inform ongoing development and aligns with the key performance indicators (KPIs) defined in the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.
Through continuous feedback collected throughout the sessions, we tracked outcomes that indicate progress in emotional healing and post-crisis recovery. The following key performance indicators highlight success in priority recovery areas from the National Plan, with a specific focus on safety and wellbeing:
Emotional Safety: 100% of participants felt safe during 8 out of 10 sessions. In two sessions, one participant (20%) reported feeling triggered.
Support: 100% of participants felt supported in 9 out of 10 sessions. In one session, one participant (20%) experienced dissociation.
Health and Wellbeing: 100% of participants recognized a positive impact on their health in 8 out of 10 sessions. In two sessions, one participant (20%) faced triggering or dissociation.
Learning Outcomes by Session:
Session 1: Journaling – 87% gained confidence in journaling as a healing tool.
Session 2: Positive Qualities – 71% felt more confident identifying their strengths.
Session 3: Boundaries, Beliefs, and Values – 100% found the content very effective.
Session 4: Poetry for Healing – 60% felt more confident using poetry for self-expression.
Session 5: Trauma-Informed Parenting – 80% felt more competent in parenting their children.
Session 6: Grief and Loss – 100% found this session extremely helpful in understanding secondary grief.
Session 7: Self-Esteem – 100% confirmed the information was effective and relevant to recovery.
Session 8: Effective Communication – 75% reported increased confidence in communication.
Sessions 9 & 10: Empowerment Archetypes and the Tree of Life – 100% said these activities helped them connect to personal growth and resilience.
These outcomes underscore the complexity of trauma recovery while highlighting the program’s alignment with national recovery goals. They demonstrate significant improvements in self-awareness, emotional safety, and recovery capacity. Such results reinforce the need for trauma-informed, survivor-led initiatives in promoting long-term healing.
Voices of Transformation: Participant Reflections
The Stepping Stones program transcends a mere series of sessions — it offers a communal journey of growth and sisterhood. Here’s what participants shared:
Healing and Hope
“This program is medicine — a group of survivors coming together to uplift one another.”
“I felt held, supported, loved, and encouraged. I am so grateful I participated.”
Empowerment and Self-Worth
“Stepping Stones gave me the strength to heal and grow — it supports me and my children.”
“I felt encouraged and hopeful. I can envision a brighter future.”
Validation and Understanding
“The Tree of Life project brilliantly unpacks the negative impacts, revealing our true selves.”
“I now understand what invalidation is, and I’ve made a conscious effort to stop it.”
Creative Expression
“Poetry, songwriting, and journaling gave me my voice back.”
“A sanctuary to lay down my pain, part of my rebirth — writing music and singing felt incredible.”
Grief and Growth
“Understanding that grief from trauma is different from loss or death — now I recognize my grief, and it has a name.”
“The grief squiggle was visually powerful, helping me accept my process.”
Community and Connection
“This environment was comforting and peaceful. We each held space for one another.”
“These women have penetrated my root system — this is true sisterhood.”
Survivors Step Up to the Mic
Participants of the Stepping Stones program bravely took their healing a step further during an overnight retreat. They gathered around Broken to Brilliant’s podcast machine, recording reflections for The Voice of Survivors podcast series. These empowering episodes provide raw and authentic insights into their transformative journeys.
Set in a Brisbane apartment with the soothing sound of rain, two incredible survivors share what it truly means to heal. After nine sessions of creative exploration, they discuss how art, poetry, and deep connections helped them discover parts of themselves buried under trauma. "Healing isn’t linear—but in community, it becomes empowering.”
In this impactful conversation, Jane shares her journey of moving from fear and triggers on the first day to finding confidence and clarity. Through trauma-informed facilitation and survivor support, she learned to self-regulate and reclaim her self-worth. "This program has been a lifeline.”
This heartfelt episode discusses the grief of losing oneself after domestic violence. Survivors reclaim their identities through empowerment and connection. With powerful metaphors, including a reflection on Circus in a Teacup, this episode portrays a journey from darkness to light. "From grief to growth, from brokenness to brilliance.”
Coming Soon:
We’re editing our fourth Stepping Stones podcast episode—stay tuned for more transformational moments from survivors' voices.
A Program That Changes Lives
From creative exploration to practical parenting tools and shared sisterhood, Stepping Stones empowers survivors to transition from surviving to thriving. These heartfelt reflections and measurable outcomes confirm that when survivors are supported by those who understand, healing is not just feasible; it becomes a tangible pathway forward.
Thank you to all the courageous participants, compassionate facilitators, and inspiring survivor-leaders who contributed to this powerful journey of healing and hope.
A special thank you to the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust for helping make the Stepping Stones life-changing program a reality.
Read more about *Stepping Stones
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