Domestic Violence Support Groups and Workshops

NDS works with an extensive community network with partner organizations that bring their specific expertise to our programs. Workshops are offered throughout the year, addressing options for furthering survivor education, financial literacy, and career development. Our Domestic Violence Support Groups help survivors build their resilience and self-esteem and help minimize the long-term damaging effects of domestic violence, so they may lead healthier, productive lives.

We offer virtual Support Groups for women and men, in English, and Spanish, during the day and in the evening. First-time attendees, please call us to sign up for our support groups.

  • Reduce domestic violence survivors’ likelihood of participating in an abusive relationship in the future
  • Reduce the risk of children perpetuating the cycle of domestic violence
  • Development of self-esteem and emotional resiliency
  • Cultivate parenting, coping, and communication skills

To join a support group, please call us on our 24-hour hotline (408)279-2962 or our front desk at (408)501-7550 M-F 9am-5pm where you can get more information on the groups and schedule the intake and orientation prior to joining.

Employment Services for Survivors

We offer comprehensive Employment Services to our clients with the ultimate goal of helping clients secure meaningful employment. This includes workforce skills training, job development, job referral, job placement, and job readiness. We can also coordinate ESL, GED, and computer literacy, and job skills workshops. We thrive to provide individual support and encouragement to clients, identifying client needs, setting goals, making referrals, and tracking client progress.

General Domestic Violence Support Groups

Group sessions focus on tools to strengthen self-resilience, self-care, self-esteem, and personal growth. The group encourages and supports survivors to achieve goals, problem solve and be independent in their own lives.

Topics covered in Self-Sufficiency Groups include:

  • Domestic Violence 101
  • Healthcare/Health Insurance
  • Employment/Job Search/Resume Writing
  • Income/Budgeting
  • Housing
  • Education
  • Food and Nutrition

If interested in attending virtual groups, please call our 24-hour hotline (408)279-2962 or our front desk at (408)501-7550 M-F 9am-5pm.

LGBTQIAP Support Group 

We offer a support group for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Pansexual (LGBTQIAP+) survivors of intimate partner violence. This group is currently virtual and is offered at 6 pm on Wednesdays. The group is aimed at building self-esteem and resilience and a sense of community in a safe environment. In this group, we cover topics that include the dynamics of intimate partner violence, safety planning, healthy boundaries, communication, self-care, and much more.

Our groups offer a supportive and welcoming space for all survivors of intimate partner violence of all genders regardless of the gender of their past or present partners.

This group meets virtually.

Men Support Group

Our drop-in men’s support group is for men who are victims of domestic violence. In this group, the clients learn about healthy vs unhealthy relationships, communication skills, domestic violence education, self-care, stress management, and much more. This group provides a space for men to build community, self-esteem and recognize personal strengths.

This group meets virtually.

This group has really helped me in my personal growth and understanding what I have been through. This group helps me know I am not alone.

Teen Support Group

Teen groups are offered to kids between the ages of 10-18yrs. This group provides a space for teens to express themselves in a safe environment. The topics in the groups include healthy relationships, communication, conflict resolutions. boundaries, self-esteem, stress relief, and much more. These groups are currently virtual and are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

This group meets virtually.

The group has been so amazing.

It’s nice to get facts, resources and guidance.

Quilting Support Group

The Quilts as Women’s Shelter program is a joint project of the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence (Next Door or NDS), and the Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association (SCVQA). The project began in July 2009. The purpose of the program is to empower victims of domestic violence to create a quilt of their own to serve as a portable shelter—an object they can use to make any place a home.  The process of making a quilt promotes self-worth, helps with stress management, and builds new skills and knowledge. The program fosters participants’ self-esteem and a renewed sense of trust in others and in life’s possibilities. The clients do not need to have any sewing experience. This group is run by museum volunteers and all the materials are provided by them.

Kids Club

Kids Club is offered during our Support groups, where moms can drop off their kids, while they attend the groups. It provides a safe, fun environment for children to grow and for kids to be kids as well. Kids Club is a drop-in setting that is safe and activity enriching. The Kids Club Facilitator provides a developmentally appropriate curriculum for children ages 3 to 17 that participate in Kids Club at the Community Office.

For children living with their moms at our two HomeSafe sites, Kids Club provides a space to engage children for the time their parent is participating in other activities. We provide fun and engaging educational activities. Art, reading and storytelling, homework help, health and nutrition, and more are offered in a safe, inviting, and consistent environment that helps promote positive play.

This program is currently on hold.