WRISC regularly runs 'support groups' for survivors during school terms, depending on demand. In the past we have run groups for survivors of childhood sexual assault; for survivors of domestic violence; groups for young women who have survived incest; groups for young mothers and have assisted in establishing a number of 'self-help groups' also.
A support group provides an opportunity for women to meet weekly and share their individual experiences. It is for women who have been through, or are going through, similar experiences. Over the life of the group (usually ten to twelve weeks), with the assistance of a WRISC worker, the group works through issues that are important to them, or that they want to explore, in an environment of trust, confidentiality and comfort.
Some issues that might be looked at are 'what is domestic violence/incest?', 'self-esteem and personal power', 'safety', 'feelings', 'how can the law help', 'cycle of violence', 'brainwashing', 'living alone' etc. The issues that are explored are those that women in the group express a wish to explore. While a group relies on the participation of its members, there is never any pressure to reveal or disclose experiences. What you give, and get back from the group is your choice. The emphasis is on members making their own choices, making their own decisions and generally making the group their own.
A support group doesn't suit everybody. At WRISC women are encouraged to seek out a number of options that may be available, one of these options is usually a support group. If you decide to join a support group, you will need to make a commitment to attend that group every week while it runs. Every potential member of a support group is asked to attend an information sharing session with the worker/s who are running the group, this session will help if you are concerned about your ability to make a commitment and is designed so that the woman and the worker can decide together whether a group is appropriate for her at this time. Some things discussed at this session are:
*personal support for you while attending the group
*how you might feel listening to other women talk about their experiences
*safety for you and the children
*transport
*commitment.
Support groups are usually run when we have received enough requests. A group will run when we have between eight and ten participants to begin. Support groups can run between ten to twelve weeks. Sessions run for approximately two hours. Participants are expected to attend all sessions and to have some involvement in the group.
Women come to groups for many reasons - emotional support, wanting to 'get on with life', needing to break the isolation, to understand what happened, to share, to make friends who understand, and to learn to like ourselves. Often survivors feel guilt and shame about their experiences. In support groups women can offer encouragement to each other to begin to let go the responsibility and place the blame at the feet of the perpetrator. A group can provide real evidence that change is possible and that women can and do take control over the direction of their lives.
The workers who assist the group are called the facilitators. It is their job to keep the group relevant to all participants, to ensure that every member has the space to say what they want to say, to enable the smooth running of the group by providing extra information, and to, within the framework developed by the participants, assist participants to explore and delve into issues to promote healing. It is the aim of the facilitator to ensure that every one can participate safely and confidentially.
Self-help groups for survivors are being established at WRISC for women who have been through support groups (either at our centre or other groups that periodically run in Ballarat). These groups are facilitated by participants, and resourced by the centre and workers.
