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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

What is The Freedom Programme actually like?

10 replies

HowSharperThan · 09/05/2026 23:19

Interested to hear from anyone who's done it. Considering suggesting it to a teenage relative who's come to live with us in fairly difficult circumstances. She's unfortunately grown up watching her Mum suffer in abusive relationships with both her dad and stepdad, and has already had two spectacularly awful boyfriends, one who raped her, and then one who was extremely controlling and is now in prison for violent offences.

She is a lovely, bright young woman and is very interested in psychology so is quite open to thinking about abuser profiles, and also her own psychological makeup and why she makes certain choices. I've already given her 'Why Does he Do That?' which she's finding really interesting, but I wonder if she'd benefit from doing The Freedom Programme to hopefully try to recognise patterns and red flags to look out for. I'm keen not to come across as 'do this course because you're shit at choosing boyfriends', so I'm interested to hear from anyone who's done it what the overall tone was, and whether they found it beneficial.

OP posts:
MyWildOliveGoose · 09/05/2026 23:22

I am about to do it, 10 years after leaving my abuser because things like this didn’t exist then. I’ve also gone on to do a masters in psychology!

It sounds like she’s already had such a tough time, and so good she’s come to find a safe loving space. I think the freedom programme might be beneficial for her.

Hopefully others with actual experience will help.

NoGarlic · 09/05/2026 23:38

I think almost everyone would benefit from the course! The online course is only £14, @HowSharperThan. Why not sign up and download the course materials, so you can see how it works?

You might be interested in this introductory video, too:

Freedom Programme website: https://www.freedomprogramme.co.uk/

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6frFq8EtfJs

mummybearSW19 · 09/05/2026 23:51

How old is she and are SS involved? They can refer at risk teens to specific courses some of which are excellent and aimed at behaviour changes

Yellowcakestand · 10/05/2026 00:57

Ive done this course. It was an eye opener to some things that I thought were normal in a relationship. Worth doing IMO

HowSharperThan · 10/05/2026 02:13

MyWildOliveGoose · 09/05/2026 23:22

I am about to do it, 10 years after leaving my abuser because things like this didn’t exist then. I’ve also gone on to do a masters in psychology!

It sounds like she’s already had such a tough time, and so good she’s come to find a safe loving space. I think the freedom programme might be beneficial for her.

Hopefully others with actual experience will help.

Ah it's great to hear you got yourself out! Well done for that, and for the masters! Hope you find the course interesting!

OP posts:
HowSharperThan · 10/05/2026 02:14

NoGarlic · 09/05/2026 23:38

I think almost everyone would benefit from the course! The online course is only £14, @HowSharperThan. Why not sign up and download the course materials, so you can see how it works?

You might be interested in this introductory video, too:

Freedom Programme website: https://www.freedomprogramme.co.uk/

Oh brilliant, thank you - I didn't realise it was that cheap! I will definitely download it and maybe suggest doing it with her!

OP posts:
HowSharperThan · 10/05/2026 02:17

mummybearSW19 · 09/05/2026 23:51

How old is she and are SS involved? They can refer at risk teens to specific courses some of which are excellent and aimed at behaviour changes

She's 18 - SS were briefly involved at the end of last year, when her relationship with stepfather deteriorated to the point he kicked her out and she was sofa surfing. Unfortunately their involvement/ support evaporated when she turned 18 and none of the things they offered to refer her to materialised.

OP posts:
HowSharperThan · 10/05/2026 02:18

Yellowcakestand · 10/05/2026 00:57

Ive done this course. It was an eye opener to some things that I thought were normal in a relationship. Worth doing IMO

Thank you - it's really helpful to hear from someone who's done it!

OP posts:
persister · 10/05/2026 08:41

I'd also highly recommend the Own My Life course, it's excellent. If you look on the Own My Life website you can search for a local course, face-to-face or on Zoom, and a lot of providers will deliver it for free or for a token charge.

If you saw Lover Liar Predator, it mentions this course - Natalie, the first survivor, wrote it and one of the other survivors realised she was being abused by attending the course.

GrumpyTurtle66 · 10/05/2026 18:59

I’ve done it before - made me realise that I was thinking some truly awful things in my relationship were normal. Not sure if it has changed much but it did make me feel a little bit crap that I clearly have a penchant for choosing terrible men. Helped me to have someone to discuss the course content with too that wasn’t on the course so spoke to a family member about it x

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