The purpose of this group is to bring us, as survivors of sexual assault, together to talk. This is a support group and not a “therapy group”. You have both a right and a responsibility to help determine what happens within the group. We believe that you will benefit from talking with each other, and seeing that you are not alone with your experiences and feelings. Talk is not a magic “cure”, but it is an important start to dispelling some of the lies or myths about the assaults, which are a part of our lives. We hope that this group will help you, not to forget or undo the experiences, but to redefine them in a way that helps you go on with your lives.

The following are some assumptions that have been made in putting this group together.

1. Each person has inner strengths.

2. Each person is in this group because s/he has had an experience, which s/he defined as sexually abusive in some way. (Exception being facilitators – the group consists of the members)

3. Each person can best define how s/he feels about the individual(s) who assaulted her/him and about the assault. No assumptions will be made about how anyone “should” or “should not” feel.

4. Each person can best decide what, if anything, they want to do about their experiences and decide what changes they may want to make in their life. No assumptions will be made about how anyone “should” or “should not” act.

5. Each person’s experiences are valid and important to her/him. They cannot be judged as better or worse than anyone else’s experiences.

6. This group is meant to be a sharing experience. It is not intended for us, as facilitators, just to talk to you, but for you to talk with each other. Survivors can support each other and learn from each other.

7. The time that you feel the least like coming is probably the time that you need to come the most.

8. Racism, sexism, and homophobia are unacceptable.

9. You have joined this group because of your own decision and not because someone else pressured you to do so.