Group Therapy for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

1. Group Therapy for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Lisa Hayes, MSW, LSW Tammy Moore MSW, LISW-S Mount Carmel Crime and Trauma Assistance Program 777 W. State St. Suite 403 Columbus, OH 43201 614-234-5900

2. Our Program: Crime and Trauma Assistance Program Individual and Group Counseling Recent Crime Victims Traumatic Loss Children, Adolescents, Adults Free of Charge Trauma focused EMDR trained therapists Advocacy and Community Education

3. Warning Trauma providers often have trauma history This workshop may be triggering Take care of yourself

4. What is Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA)? You were abused if you were, as a child, teen and/or into your adulthood, if you were: Fondled, kissed, or held for sexual gratification without consent Forced to perform oral sex on an adult, sibling, or other family member Raped or otherwise penetrated Made to watch sexual acts Forced to listen to excessive talk about sex Fondled or hurt genitally while bathed Subjected to unnecessary medical treatments to satisfy an adult�s sadistic or sexual needs Shown sexual movies or other pornography Made to pose for seductive or sexual photographs Involved in child prostitution or pornography Forced to take part in ritualized abuse in which you were physically, psychologically, or sexually tortured (Adapted From The Courage To Heal, Bass & Davis, 2008.)

5. Why is this group so important? Breaks silence of CSA Provides language and education Reduces shame response Adds support network Breaks cycle of abuse Provides coping skills Lack of treatment Reduces future traumatic incidents

6. Group Set-up 12-15 week closed group 8-10 participants Female adult survivors of CSA Assessment is required with CTAP staff Must be receiving individual therapy Focused on abuse Structured format Meets for 2 hours 2 Facilitators Begin and end with grounding exercise

7. Choosing Facilitators Understanding of CSA Ability to do process group This is more than a support group Ability to confront challenging and distracting behavior Trust amongst facilitators Available to debrief after group Availability to members and their therapists

8. Consider Group Make up Age Cultural background/ beliefs Sexual orientation SES Diagnoses Coping and History

9. Things to Consider When Working with Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors Complex/ Chronic PTSD Other mental health disorders Dual Diagnosis Personality Disorders Medical History Life Stressors

10. Group Hazards Attention seeking behaviors Confront immediately Avoidant behaviors Point out pattern Re-creating family of origin dynamics Bring awareness Attendance Have a policy in beginning Transference Dissociation Interrupt Must have plan with each member Triggers Grounding exercises Sensory intervention Contact outside of group Bring to group

11. How to Assess Group Readiness Assessment can take multiple sessions Must be in individual therapy Stabilization before any trauma treatment Rule out: AOD problems Eating disorders Safety Issues Dissociative Disorders No contact with offender Has a support system Not in a domestic violence relationship