Together We Thrive
Brain injuries caused by intimate partner violence can often be invisible.
Headaches, memory difficulties, trouble concentrating, fatigue and emotional changes can all be signs of a brain injury, and many survivors live with these effects without realizing they may be connected to experiences of physical violence (including hits to the head, face, and neck, or strangulation).
If this sounds familiar, Together We Thrive may be for you.
Together We Thrive brings survivors together in a safe online environment to connect, learn, share experiences, and move forward together.
Support. Connection. Community.
You don’t have to navigate intimate partner violence–caused brain injury alone.
Together We Thrive is a free, online, peer support program created for survivors of intimate partner violence-caused brain injury (IPV-BI).
Developed and delivered by Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research (SOAR), the program fosters safe, structured and trauma-informed spaces to connect with others who understand, learn practical coping strategies, and build community.
Registration is now open for regional groups across Canada.
Online Peer Support Program Details
What’s included
Requires access to a computer or phone with a reliable internet connection.
Together We Thrive is offered through four regional groups, with session times to accommodate participants across Canada.
Western Canada
Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories
Last Friday of each month
9:30–11:00 AM PST
Central Canada
Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nunavut
Last Thursday of each month
7:00–8:30 PM EST
Eastern Canada
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador
Fourth Thursday of each month
3:00–4:30 PM ADT
Québec / Francophone
Québec and French speakers across Canada
Second Monday of each month
7:30–9:00 PM EST
Together We Thrive is not a drop-in program. Participants join a consistent group and attend monthly sessions together throughout the program.
Interested in Joining?
Complete this form and we’ll be in touch.
What Happens Next
Getting started is simple.
Register your interest
Completing the interest form starts the registration process.
Connect with a SOAR team member
We’ll reach out to provide more information and answer any questions.
Complete a readiness check
We’ll support you through the process and help you decide if Together We Thrive is the right support for you right now.
Complete your pre-program information
Eligible participants will complete a short pre-survey and informed consent process.
Join your group
Once you’re registered, we’ll make sure you have everything you need to join your monthly online sessions.
Is Together We Thrive Right for You?
Together We Thrive brings survivors of intimate partner violence-caused brain injury together to build community and support wellbeing.
Participants must:
- Be between 18 and 65
- Have experienced, or believe they may have experienced, an intimate partner violence-caused brain injury*
- Be able to participate in conversational English, or conversational French if attending the Francophone group
- Be in a safe and stable enough place to participate**
- Have access to a suitable device, reliable internet and a private space for online sessions
- Be able to attend the monthly sessions
- Be willing to respect the privacy, experiences and perspectives of other participants
*If unsure if what you’re experiencing or have experienced aligns with signs and patterns of IPV and gender-based violence, the information on this resource page may help support your decision.
**A note on activation: Sometimes being in a support space can bring up unexpected feelings or body sensations (tension, emotion, or a sense of disconnecting). This is a normal response, and our groups are designed with it in mind. We encourage you to plan ahead for what you might need, and to show up however feels right: camera off, taking a breath, stepping away for a moment. You’re always welcome to participate at your own pace.
Not sure if you qualify? That’s okay.
Complete the interest form and someone from the Together We Thrive team can help you understand whether the program may be right for you.
About SOAR
Together We Thrive is an initiative of SOAR
Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research.
The program is made possible through funding from Women and Gender Equality Canada / Femmes et Égalité des genres Canada (WAGE/FEGC).