'She is not your rehab' movement helping men address domestic violence in Christchurch

The 'She is not your rehab' movement.
The 'She is not your rehab' movement. Photo credit: Supplied via RNZ

By Eleisha Foon for RNZ

A free group therapy session is being offered for men in Christchurch to help them heal from their past traumas.

The 'She is not your rehab' movement is hosting monthly counselling sessions to empower men to address domestic violence by healing from past traumas through honest conversations.

She Is Not Your Rehab was founded by Matt Brown from Christchurch barbershop My Father's Barbers and he will co-lead the collective with a qualified therapist Phil Siataga.

Siagtaga said the waitlist for mens' therapy and counselling in Christchurch can be up to six months.

His wife, Sarah Brown said it would be good to see less domestic violence in New Zealand.

"So many men are struggling with violence, suicide, addiction and the group is an invitation for them to heal," she said.

"Often therapy is difficult, expensive, there's sometimes a stigma attached and it can be inaccessible," she said the determined couple hoped to remove those barriers and create a free safe space for a large group of men.

The Christchurch monthly mens collective will run on the last Monday of every month from 7pm at My Father's Barbers, with the first session beginning this on the 24th this month.

RNZ