A Look At Sexual Assault Support And Healing Groups: A Modern Day Ritual 

Introduction

Sexual violence is far too common an occurrence in today’s society. Munro-Kramer, Dulin, and Gaither (2017) states “that in any given year in the United States data suggest that 1. 3 million women will experience rape, and there are currently almost 22 million women rape survivors in the United States” (p. 297). Also Munro-Kramer et al. , (2017) state that “an estimated 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men enduring a sexual assault during their college career” (p. 297). As a result, there are many survivors seeking support from the violence that they have endured.

In recent years, the conversation surrounding sexual violence has been brought to the forefront of mainstream media by organizations such as the Me too movement. Ever since the inception of the Me too movement in 2006, groups supporting survivors of sexual violence have been increasing around the country. The importance of such groups is illustrated in the following quote: “Trauma isolates; the group recreates a sense of belonging. Trauma shames and stigmatizes; the group bears witness and affirms. Trauma dehumanizes the group restores humanity’’ (as cited in Lynch, 2011, p. 179). The focus of this research essay is to examine the ritual of sexual assault support and healing groups. Initially, elements such as the history of sexual assault therapy groups will be discussed. Then, the proceedings of such a group will be described; finally, their benefits will be investigated.

The History Behind the Ritual

Although group therapy has been around since the 1940s (Yalom, 2005), sexual assault psychotherapy groups only appeared in the 1970s with the rise of the Women’s Liberation Movement (Brownmiller, 1975). The idea as stated by Brownmiller (1975) “That women should organize to combat rape was a women’s movement invention” (p. 397). They provided a place for women to share their thoughts and experiences with the world in the form of speak-outs and conferences. For the first time, women had a voice. Resources for victims of sexual violence were also made readily available (Brownmiller, 1975). The Women’s movement raised awareness surrounding the needs for survivors of sexual violence. Not long after, rape crisis centers responded by offering 24 hour hotlines for victims looking for support. These centers also provided counselling, information and a safe place to talk about one’s experiences of sexual violence with other women. Essentially, they are at the origin of sexual assault group therapy (Brownmiller, 1975).

The ritual of such group therapy plays a critical role in bringing survivors together to deal with their trauma. Fedorak (2017) defines a ritual as “Organized actions that have historical/traditional value” (p. 211); thus, psychotherapy groups have regular traditions built into their structure. It is the ritual of coming together regularly, sharing experiences and having the common goal of healing that are critical components of these groups. All the groups that are discussed in the Structure of Support section of this paper outline the process that these groups follow when they come together. This includes checking in with the members, taking part in the activities of the group and a check out process. The checking in process traditionally means learning where people are at currently in their healing, and where they are at in achieving their goals. Checking out requires members setting new goals for the upcoming week based on discussions or skill development that has taken place that week in the group. This checking in and checking out process with all members is a regular part of each meeting. These organized actions create the foundation for each week’s session upon which the groups are based. These regular activities provide continuity to the group members and create the traditions and values upon which the groups are based.

The Structure of Support

Trauma can be defined as a “single event, multiple events or a set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically and emotionally harmful or threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual's social, emotional and spiritual well-being’’(Hepworth, Rooney, R. H. , Rooney, G. D. , & Strom-Gottfried, 2016).

In looking specifically at rape trauma, McMahon (2010) states “the devastating impact of rape on victims has been well documented, including negative outcomes on physical health, mental health academic performance and interpersonal relationships” (p. 4). Recovering from such a trauma is done in multiple stages. Lynch (2011) describes three stages of recovery that survivors typically go through to heal. Lynch (2011) discusses these stages and indicates that they are not always linear; therefore, participants can go back and forth through the various stages during their recovery. During the first stage in the long process of recovery, survivors are dealing with concerns around personal safety and feeling safe in their environment (Lynch, 2011); thus, in this stage, they are trying to regain control of their lives. Often in stage one, survivors are still struggling to come to terms with what happened to them as a result Lynch (2011) indicates that they can engage in self-harming behaviour as a coping mechanism. Lynch (2011) states that the second stage “is focused on remembrance, integration, and mourning’’ (p. 184). Survivors, Lynch (2011) explains, need to be physically and mentally strong to cope with the intense feelings that can be brought up at this stage. If survivors are still struggling to cope with their trauma, they may not be ready to begin stage two. In stage three, Lynch (2011) describes stage three as focusing on “reconnecting with others’’ (p. 185). At this stage survivors need to examine their existing relationships and ensure that they are healthy and positive and if not to determine how they will navigate these relationships in the future or end them if necessary.

There are several types of psychotherapy groups that a survivor could participant in. Which group is best for an individual depends on where they are at in their recovery process. In looking at the various types of support for survivors, there are three different types of groups that they could participate in. These are support groups, structured groups and semi-structured groups (Lynch, 2011). Each group has unique characteristics that meet the needs of survivors at various stages in their healing. Support groups tend to be for survivors who are in stage one of the recovery processes. Lynch (2011) indicates that these groups “are most often useful for individuals who are struggling to be safe and/or cope with everyday stressors” (p. 186). Structured groups typically are “present-focused” (Lynch, 2011, p. 186) and centered around a specific skill that they want to teach the survivor. This is in contrast to semistructured groups that focus on discussion, and the lived experiences of their members (Lynch, 2011). Both structured and semistructured groups have a process for checking in with the participants, discussion of progress towards goals and a check out component that outlines what participants have identified as a goal that they are working towards (Lynch, 2011). Structured groups, as well as semistructured, groups cater to survivors at stage one or stage two of the recovery process.

The Benefits of Support

The benefits of group therapy are numerous, but not instantaneous. To gain the numerous rewards of group therapy, one must persevere. Those that do, reap the rewards over time (Yalom, 2005). Many victims feel isolated and alone following an incident of sexual violence. In the study by Munro-Kramer, Dulin and Gaither (2017), “All participants described the value of having a peer support group to talk to and to help them feel like they are not alone” (p. 301); thus, survivors have found that social support is an important element in their recovery. As Leech and Littlefield (2011) indicate “Social support plays a central role in breaking the connection between sexual abuse and trauma symptoms” (p. 296). Leech and Littlefield (2011) further indicate that “a variety of empirical investigations establish, social support as a significant factor in the progression from sexual abuse victimization to positive psychological adjustment” (p. 297).

Additionally, survivors find that sharing experiences with others who have also endured sexual assault is one reason that they seek out a group experience (Yalom, 2005). “Recognition of shared experiences can begin to degrade the sense of stigma and differentness associated with sexual trauma. A feeling of belonging to the group can allow individuals to begin to decrease the sense of secrecy and shame that often surrounds sexual trauma” (Lynch, 2011, p. 180). Furthermore, Lynch (2011) states that “In other words, just as a sexual trauma represents betrayal by at least one other, recovery is facilitated by remembering or discovering in interactions with others, that we are deserving of nurturing and caring relationships” (p. 180). Participants learn through interactions with other group members about their everyday coping that anyone can have a safe relationship and be successful in all areas of their life. These meetings provide survivors with the hope that things will and do get better (Lynch, 2011).

Conclusion

This paper outlines the history, structure and benefits of the modern day ritual of sexual assault support and healing groups. The organized actions that take place within these groups help survivors along their healing journey. Leech and Littlefield (2011) state that “social support will increase the already large percentage of survivors who report positive outcomes following their experience of sexual abuse” (p. 313). Thus, psychotherapy groups play an important role in the recovery of survivors of sexual violence.