Dr Felitti was stunned. He’s never seen such weight gain that quickly in such a short amount of time. Patty herself blamed it on sleepwalking. But that wasn’t enough. Dr Felitti wondered why now. Patty wasn’t sure. But he kept asking questions. Patty told Felitti that an older man at work complimented and propositioned her. Helpful, thought Felitti.
Read more5 Reasons Why Community-Based, Peer Support Groups Work Better
The support groups I lead are community-based and peer-led. Community-based means that they happen in the community, the neighborhood where we live, instead of at a non-profit or social services agency. Peer-led means that the group organizer identifies as someone who shares a common experience with other attendees. An example of another community-based peer support group is an AA (NA, Al-Anon, etc.) meeting.
For almost two years, I led groups as an "expert", not as a peer survivor, at a non-profit agency. These were psycho-educational groups where attendees were screened for mental health challenges (and more) before they were allowed to attend. As the leader (and a paid staff person at this agency), I was actively discouraged about being honest about my own history as a survivor.
So, I've seen both sides.
And there's a BIG difference.
Update: August 2019- I am updating and expanding this pamphlet into a book! Head here for more information.
Source: peer-led-community-based-support
A small tale
Do things need to change? Great! You can do it.
Read moreSeeking sexual abuse survivors...
I started a survey for sexual abuse survivors (whether as an adult or a child) that asks about 10 questions. The information will be used to help professionals better understand how past abuse affects later health and wellness. Can you help?
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