Benefits of a Recovery Group*
• Groups promote reconnection with others. One impact of sexual assault is that it isolates us from ourselves, others and the world around us. In groups, survivors begin to form new attachments that lay the groundwork for their ability to heal and recover.
• Groups provide safety and support. There is opportunity to meet and gather support from other people with similar experiences. Being with others who understand makes it easier to share without fear of being judged. In groups, survivors safely share their experiences, feelings and concerns.
• Groups validate a survivor’s experience. When survivors see others with similar situations as theirs, they recognize their experience as important too. Groups validate the survivor’s experience as worthy of attention and concern.
• Groups universalize the problem. The power of seeing your experiences in the lives of others is immeasurable. Groups allow survivors to begin to recognize they are not alone, making it easier to diffuse their sense of blame and responsibility.
• Groups present role models for expressing and coping with feelings. When you see how others cope with their experiences, it not only provides examples but promotes confidence that healing is possible.
• Groups promote trust. Survivors learn that others want to help and will be there for them. They begin to trust others again.
• Groups provide survivors an opportunity to help others. Helping others helps promote a sense of self-worth and value. Groups give survivors the chance to get outside their own experiences and help others in the healing journey.
• Ultimately, groups promote empowerment, the key to sexual assault recovery. Groups are a place for information sharing and problem solving. Engaging in problem solving with others gives survivors a sense of power and control that is the backbone of recovery.
• Groups promote reconnection with others. One impact of sexual assault is that it isolates us from ourselves, others and the world around us. In groups, survivors begin to form new attachments that lay the groundwork for their ability to heal and recover.
• Groups provide safety and support. There is opportunity to meet and gather support from other people with similar experiences. Being with others who understand makes it easier to share without fear of being judged. In groups, survivors safely share their experiences, feelings and concerns.
• Groups validate a survivor’s experience. When survivors see others with similar situations as theirs, they recognize their experience as important too. Groups validate the survivor’s experience as worthy of attention and concern.
• Groups universalize the problem. The power of seeing your experiences in the lives of others is immeasurable. Groups allow survivors to begin to recognize they are not alone, making it easier to diffuse their sense of blame and responsibility.
• Groups present role models for expressing and coping with feelings. When you see how others cope with their experiences, it not only provides examples but promotes confidence that healing is possible.
• Groups promote trust. Survivors learn that others want to help and will be there for them. They begin to trust others again.
• Groups provide survivors an opportunity to help others. Helping others helps promote a sense of self-worth and value. Groups give survivors the chance to get outside their own experiences and help others in the healing journey.
• Ultimately, groups promote empowerment, the key to sexual assault recovery. Groups are a place for information sharing and problem solving. Engaging in problem solving with others gives survivors a sense of power and control that is the backbone of recovery.
*this information was created by the"Winter 2010 newsletter "Reshape-- The Newsletter of the Sexual Assault Coalition Resource Sharing Project"