Help us to reach more survivors

If you sign up to the randomised control trial we are running in partnership with the University of Melbourne, you will be randomly placed into a boxing-only stream OR a boxing and writing stream. You will be asked to complete surveys that track your mental wellbeing and physical health over the course of the program.

We often get questions about whether a person “qualifies” for the program, based on the type of abuse they have experienced and the age that it happened. Whilst we create an emphasis on child abuse, we understand gendered violence manifests in many ways and throughout our lives.

We have people in our program who have experienced abuse in their teens, along with domestic violence scenarios, alongside those who have suffered abuse in their childhood through family, networks, institutions or other instances.

It is important to note we do not censor in this workshop, nor do we put a value judgement on people’s trauma experiences.

As survivors, we often judge ourselves very harshly. We may have stories about ourselves that our trauma was ‘not that bad’, or that we are ‘forever broken’. Left Write Hook welcomes all survivors. You do not have to be ‘healed’, and we make absolutely no judgement about your trauma - your experience is valid and your pain is real.

Our programs run for 8 weeks, 2.5 hours each week unless specified. We ensure privacy in the gym spaces we use. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive information about upcoming programs.

Our 8 week program costs $400 per person. Payment is due in full one week before the program starts.

Our program welcomes survivors facing financial barriers. In our Expression of Interest Form, we have a section where you can set your price, aligning with your means and program value. If you can, the sustainable cost to the program cost is $400.

Nope! Most participants put on boxing gloves for the very first time at Left Write Hook.

Nope! Left Write Hook is a safe, judgement-free space. We encourage you to write and share and be kind to yourself as you learn to take back your voice and power.

Nope! We adapt our program to all fitness levels. We check in about injuries or physical limitations and work with you to make sure you are comfortable. Before the program starts, we will provide you with some guides on how to physically prepare.

Our program can be adapted to all fitness and experience levels. Our trainers will work with you to make sure the program is challenging and fun.

All of our trainers and facilitators have lived/living experience of complex trauma and abuse.

They are all trained in writing and trauma-informed boxing and receive specialised support from our Left Write Hook psychotherapist to ensure they are well-equipped to hold space for you when you participate in our program.

Most of our trainers and facilitators have been program participants in the past and understand first-hand the bravery and resilience you demonstrate by signing up and showing up.

All of our facilitators and trainers have lived/living experience of complex trauma and abuse and receive training so that they can safely deliver the LWH program. Subscribe to our newsletter so we can let you know when we are recruiting trainers.

Your participation at each and every moment is up to you. Because the group size is small, the program works best when people participate in both activities. This helps to build solidarity within the group and establish mutual trust and respect. There are always different writing prompts to choose from and boxing activities can be modified to suit your needs. To get the best results out of the workshop we encourage you to do both writing and boxing.

Our research shows that the combination of writing and boxing can reduce PTSD, depression, stress, anxiety and increase personal agency and belonging.

Writing has long had therapeutic benefits and the writing component of Left Write Hook is based on the work of Pat Schneider and Jen Cross, who run successful writing workshops for people who have experienced trauma.

Left Write Hook adapts this model with an explicit trauma-informed framework and introduces boxing as a physical and expressive activity to release any feelings that may have come up from the writing.

Read more about the research behind Left Write Hook.

Writing about and talking about sexual abuse and trauma can bring up feelings of discomfort, emotional overwhelm, anxiety and more.

Participants are encouraged to go at their own pace and only write and share what they are comfortable with. There is no expectation that you will need to disclose any personal information that you are not ready to. At the same time, the workshop is not censored, so please be mindful that you may hear emotional and distressing information. Support resources will be available via the program manual.

The program is recommended for those with a level of recovery and awareness of their sexual abuse and trauma history, with existing mental health & therapeutic supports in place.

All exercise can come with risks and so it is important to advise if you have any injury before you start training and to modify exercises that support and aid your recovery. There are physical risks with boxing which can include sore wrists. A warm-up and stretching can help to ensure you do not injure yourself. We always encourage people to go at their own pace and to adapt exercises to suit your ability.

We believe recovery is a continuum and that it is an ongoing commitment. It can be a journey that takes a lifetime, and we hope that you will continue to write and remain fit with us or throughout your daily life. Our team can support you to work with a trauma informed trainer who can help you keep fit and on track or you can sign up to continue on for another program.

For those that want to keep writing with other survivors, a closed social media group may be available to stay connected. Writing prompts will be shared as exercises, along with program updates.