"As we heal ourselves, we heal each other. As we heal each other, we heal the world. So be it." ~unknown
“The best of community does give one a deep sense of belonging and well-being; and in that sense community takes away loneliness.” ~Henri Nouwen
If you have been affected by experiences of unwanted sexual encounters and/or assault, I highly recommend joining a support group as a part of your healing journey. Some of the fairly immediate benefits of support groups are reducing feelings of shame and isolation and normalizing the effects you may be experiencing from trauma. From there, you may notice greater ease with talking about what happened and what you need going forward because of it, as well as improving your comfort with re-exploring your sexuality and relational intimacy. There is always something special that happens when people come together with intention and open hearts & minds.
What I have enjoyed most from being a part of a support group and now running them is the laughter shared, the jokes cracked that can only be made in a tight knit group of people who’ve been through something similar. I’ve also really appreciated the comfort of having people to talk to about the challenges of sexual trauma who so easily get it without judgment. We’ve been able to honor the variety of experiences in the room, commiserate over similarities, and offer compassionate support around differences. I am touched by each member’s life story, rooting them on through the hard moments, warmed by the small but significant wins in their daily life, and inspired by their innate wisdom.
In the support group I run, we begin by collaborating to create a group culture that works for everyone. In our first sessions, we openly discuss and set our boundaries, expectations, and norms, so that each member feels heard and respected. We emphasize confidentiality, the importance of mutual respect, and the idea that it’s okay to share at one’s own pace.
We get to know each other through activities that encourage trust-building and practice positive, supportive listening and feedback skills. Sharing humor, being playful, and laughing together help break down barriers and remind us that joy is a vital part of healing.
Additionally, we practice skills for establishing safety in our bodies, such as grounding techniques and mindfulness exercises. If a member feels vulnerable or triggered, we honor their experience by pausing, providing support, and reinforcing the sense of safety and choice within the group.
The group decides what activities they’d like to do that’ll be supportive to their recovery. This may include sharing stories, asking anonymous questions, taking a field trip to a rage room, rituals, somatic exercises, womb healing meditations, tools for working with PTSD symptoms, communication skills for talking with sexual partners, music therapy, etc. What’s different about the group I run versus other groups for healing from sexual trauma is that most groups will largely just focus on PTSD reducing skills through common western psychotherapy modalities like CBT or DBT, but here members really get to know each other personally, who they are, and what’s going on in their lives. We also touch on a large variety and multicultural tools for healing. The groups are kept small (5-8 members) and we sit in a circle on the floor with a candle, crystals, and snacks placed in the middle. There is a couch and chair if you prefer seating and people are encouraged to bring anything to make themselves more comfortable such as special blankets, pillows, lucky charms, sentimental stuffed animals, etc.
If you are curious and interested in learning more about this group, please reach out for a free 30 minute consultation and then let me know if you’d like to join the waitlist. I look forward to hearing from you!
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