“Elizabeth has a gift for teaching us. I have tried to overcome trauma (on my own) and failed but coming to Elizabeth has given me courage and hope to keep working on it.”
Last night, I closed the chapter on my fourth and final sexual trauma survivor support group of 2016. It was a glorious, triumphant ending. (See flowers below). There were eight women at the start and eight at the end. A few were absent at this final evening but none dropped out, drifted away or vanished without a word as sometimes can happen.
"Support groups can be an important place to start and build on our skills speaking our stories." - Allison
Support groups are quirky little communities. Good support groups are intentionally small and invite a volleying of vulnerabilities led by someone who has been there before. Support groups aren't official "healing" as might happen with a therapist or even mandated group therapy as can be required for someone's treatment program. But healing does often happen.
“I love that this is therapy-but it’s not! That may be appealing to someone who has never been to therapy (like myself!)”
At a time in our history when people are virtual with others all day long, support groups are a throwback to sweeter times, when support was shared across a kitchen table in someone's home. Sometimes we don't need extensive time one on one with someone. Sometimes all we need is love, in frequent doses by people who get us. That's what we get in good support groups.
My next support group is for domestic / family violence survivors and/or survivors of partner abuse. It starts Tuesday November 8 in Durham. The group is free and open to female identified folks only. Click here for details.