Tuzla Open Center organized the first support group for LGBTI+ individuals and women this year, led by two young therapists, with anxiety being the main topic. These support groups are held with the support of the SMART Balkans Core grant, which has been aiding the organization’s work since the beginning of 2023.
“I look forward to Wednesdays because that’s when our meetings are,” is a quote said by one of the participants in this group. A safe space, support, and unconditional belief in potential are the main principles of this group. We live in a society where LGBTI+ individuals and women do not have adequate access to a safe space where they can express themselves without fear of judgment, discrimination, and attacks. This fact greatly affects general anxiety and anxious states. Through the support group, therapists provided members with education, a safe space, therapy sessions, and support, all aimed at bringing attention back to the present moment and reducing anxious thoughts that lead us away from what is currently in front of us.
At the beginning of the year, the organization partnered with the informal group “Self” in Tuzla and signed a cooperation agreement with the psychotherapy school “Psiho-Integrum” d.o.o. in Sarajevo to provide necessary psychotherapeutic and psychological support to its users. This cooperation resulted in the establishment of the first support group, which, through fifteen sessions, managed to empower the participants and helped them find ways to move away from stagnant behavior patterns.
We believe that our participants can speak best about this group and how much it helped them, so we share the story of one of the participants:
“The process comes recklessly and imperceptibly. The process doesn’t even come; it constantly develops in the being of the individual and simultaneously affects all aspects of life. It opens space for new energies and paths, which we pass through and survive to reach a certain goal. In my personal experience, the process led me to the decision to join the support group conducted by Tuzla Open Center through its Core Grant, with anxiety as the topic. It was challenging to encourage myself and open up in front of a group of people, but overcoming the ingrained shame contributed to raising awareness and opening new doors. What particularly impressed me was the atmosphere created within the group, which was supportive, warm, and open. With each subsequent meeting, I had the opportunity to learn and become aware of parts of myself, which contributed to developing mechanisms for dealing with anxiety. I had the opportunity to confront parts of myself I had never faced before and get to know those deeply hidden sides of myself. During this confrontation, I felt immense support from the participants and group leaders, which contributed to deeper connections and trust. And that always leads to looking forward to the Wednesday meetings. The process is always a challenge, and anxiety, as an existing obstacle, is a challenge in itself. But what made this challenge easier for me was learning how to breathe, especially while speaking. I know it sounds trivial; breathing is an unconscious function that keeps us alive, but that’s why we often forget its importance. I learned to shift my focus to the positive and what is here and now, and that’s when the long-desired positive changes began to happen. One of them was the offer I received to work as a peer counselor, which I immediately accepted. That moment encouraged me a lot, making me aware of my own competencies and that I received another confirmation that I can do what I want and that I am good at it. The support group was a path to success for me, a path I needed to take. I can say that today anxiety is much smaller and that I look forward to the new support group.”
In the coming period, Tuzla Open Center will launch two more support groups with the support of the SMART Balkans Core grant, which aids the work and development of the organization.
