ASCA: New
York City
Support Group for Adult Survivors
of Child
Abuse
Contents
- Who Are We?
- When and Where Do We Meet?
- Who Can I Contact for More Information?
- What Is the Basic Meeting Format?
- What Do I Have to Do at Meetings?
- How Many People Attend Meetings?
- What Types of Child Abuse Do You Discuss?
- What Is the Demographic Background of Meeting Participants?
- What Are the 21 steps of ASCA?
- Can I Join?
- Does It Cost Anything?
- Do You Have Any Resource Materials?
- Do You Have a Yahoo Group?
- Do You Know of Any Other Support Groups in the Greater Metropolitan Area?
- Where Can I Go If I Am In Danger of Injuring Myself?
- Will This Group Help Me?
- Can I Start My Own Group?
- Do you have any links?
- Do you
have a reading list?
Who Are We?
Our meetings follow the Adult Survivors of Child
Abuse
(ASCA) program as designed by the
When and Where Do We Meet?
In
Our meeting place is a block and a half south of Washington Square Park between West 3rd St. and Bleecker St. and near several train stations including the West 4th St. station (A,B,C,D,E,F,V trains), the Christopher Street Station (1,9 trains), and the Prince Street Station (N, R trains). There is a parking garage on West 3rd Street between 6th Avenue & MacDougal 2 blocks from our meeting place. Parking is available on our street as well. Please check the parking signs on the street for permitted hours. Generally speaking, parking on neighboring streets becomes permitted after 6 PM. Please email us for an exact address and more detailed directions. We meet in a modern, safe, and public building in a large room that is equipped with air-conditioning.
Here is a photo of our street.
Here is a photo of our meeting room.
Who Can I Contact for More Information?
Email John at [email protected]
What Is the Basic Meeting Format?
- Opening Comments by Co-Secretaries, Readings
- Presenter (maximum 15 minutes)
- Feedback to Presenter (10 minutes)
- Shares (maximum 5 minutes each)
- Closure Comments
- Announcements & Closing
What Do I Have to Do at Meetings?
You do not have to do anything. You do not have to introduce yourself and do not have to speak. You can just sit and listen if you like. This is a no pressure situation. We try to keep the atmosphere easy going and friendly.
How Many People Attend Meetings?
We average seven people per meeting.
What Types of Child Abuse Do You Discuss?
We discuss the whole gamut of forms of abuse including incest, sexual abuse by non-relatives, violence, emotional and verbal abuse, and neglect.
What Is the Demographic Background of Meeting Participants?
We have people of many races, religions, ethnic backgrounds, and life style choices. We have both men and women, most meetings with a 50-50 split by gender. Our participants cover the adult age range.
What Are the 21 steps of ASCA?
STAGE ONE: REMEMBERING
- I am in a breakthrough crisis, having gained some sense of my abuse.
- I have determined that I was physically, sexually or emotionally abused as a child.
- I have made a commitment to recovery from my childhood abuse.
- I shall re-experience each set of memories as they surface in my mind.
- I accept that I was powerless over my abusers' actions which holds THEM responsible.
- I can respect my shame and anger as a consequence of my abuse, but shall try not to turn it against myself or others.
- I can sense my inner child whose efforts to survive now can be appreciated.
STAGE TWO: MOURNING
- I have made an inventory of the problem areas in my adult life.
- I have identified the parts of myself connected to self-sabotage.
- I can control my anger and find healthy outlets for my aggression.
- I can identify faulty beliefs and distorted perceptions in myself and others.
- I am facing my shame and developing self-compassion.
- I accept that I have the right to be who I want to be and live the way I want to live.
- I am able to grieve my childhood and mourn the loss of those who failed me.
STAGE THREE: HEALING
- I am entitled to take the initiative to share in life's riches.
- I am strengthening the healthy parts of myself, adding to my self-esteem.
- I can make necessary changes in my behavior and relationships at home and work.
- I have resolved the abuse with my offenders to the extent that is acceptable to me.
- I hold my own meaning about the abuse that releases me from the legacy of the past.
- I see myself as a thriver in all aspects of life - love, work, parenting, and play.
- I am resolved in the reunion of my new self and eternal soul.
Can I Join?
We welcome any person who is recovering from child abuse except for those who are currently perpetrating abuse on others (See note 6 below.).
Our Meetings are
classified
as Open drop-in. This means that a newcomer to the ASCA meeting is
always
welcomed into the group. Participants come when they want. There is no
set
commitment to attending ASCA meetings and no requirement to
participate. If you
like, you can just get comfortable in your chair and watch.
To ensure cooperation and safety
in our
meeting, we observe the following guidelines:
- Please arrive on time and remain until the conclusion of the meeting. Latecomers will be asked to wait outside so that speakers who are sharing are not interrupted. There are two opportunities for entry - 1) just prior to the main presenter about 10 minutes into the meeting, and 2) just prior to the share period approximately 35 minutes into the meeting. No one will be allowed in after this last time.
- ASCA meetings are exclusively for survivors of physical, sexual, or emotional childhood abuse.
- This is an anonymous meeting. Only first names are used.
- What you hear today is told in confidence and should not be repeated outside this meeting.
- We ask that no one attend our meeting under the influence of alcohol or drugs, unless the medication is prescribed by a physician.
- ASCA meetings are not intended for survivors who are currently perpetrating abuse on others. Talking about past or present perpetrator type behavior is not permissible.
- Language that is considered derogatory concerning race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or other minority status is unacceptable in our meeting.
- By participating in this meeting we all agree to abide by the spirit of ASCA, our guidelines and any interventions by the Co-Secretaries.
Does It Cost Anything?
There is a suggested contribution of $10 per meeting. This money goes towards room rental and administrative fees. The contribution is suggested and not required of those who cannot afford it. We pass around an envelope for collection. Nobody will see what you place in there.
Do You Have Any Resource Materials?
Sure. Here are a few.
Flier for Advertising the Group
Statement of Philosophy And Steps
You can find more materials at the Morris Center website. Here is a links page.
Do You Have a Yahoo Group?
Funny, that you should ask. Yes, we do have such a group which is used mostly for meeting organization. The requirements for joining are the same as that for attending meetings.