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National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
Can't find a Survivor Recovery Group near you ? ..Start your own !!
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NAASCA Recovery
- Start a Group - |
NAASCA has several suggestions for you, each with its own method / plan / program of recovery: (1) Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (Survivor to Thriver), (2) The Lamplighters Movement (The REPAIR program), (3) Adult Survivors of Child Abuse Anonymous (ASCAA) (a 12 step program), and (4) Empower Survivors (peer to peer recovery group out of St Paul, Minnesota).
We'll help you decide which is best for you, and be happy to help you launch a group. Just let us know .. |
Can't find a Survivor Recovery Group near you ? ..Start your own !!
We suggest that if you can't find a recovery group in your area you consider starting a meeting yourself. And we have several suggestions.
NOTE: When you do, please let us know. Sent an email to Carolin O'Hara in London, England, once your recovery meeting's been established, and she'll add it to the appropriate NAASCA list right away! She
diligently maintains these files daily: maudnmildred@hotmail.com
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Two well-established and organized Groups
To begin with there are two very well established multi-meeting, multi-state recovery groups that NAASCA recommends. They have groups that are meeting across the country (and a few overseas), and many NAASCA members already attend them.
One is "Adult Survivors of Child Abuse" (ASCA), originated by the Morris Center in San Francisco, and the second is "The Lamplighters Movement," founded by NAASCA "family member" Margie McKinnon. Together they have almost 200 listed meetings.
Each of these two groups has its own valid process of healing. And if you're lucky, one of their meetings may be located near you.
Check here for info on these two great recovery groups:
Both ASCAsupport and The Lamplighters Movement have an expressed interest in supporting new meetings. Each has a relatively easy-to-accomplish training processes for potential facilitators, and new groups will generally be provided with beginning literature, meeting formats and other support.
Recovery meetings are needed all over the country, and are extremely cost effective. Many groups easily cover their expenses either by charging a nominal fee or by simply passing a hat during the meeting. The largest expense is often the room rental (if any), followed by the photocopying of extra literature.
Write to the contact emails above for details.
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Three more simple and independent Groups
Perhaps the simplest method of starting a group is to invite a partner to join you in a public, peer-to-peer sharing style meeting for survivors. You can start one of these in your own living room and move to a larger space when appropriate. Check with local churches, libraries and social or senior centers when that time comes.
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Survivors Anonymous |
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Survivors Anonymous - SurvivorsAnonymousGroup.com
Who started this?
'Survivors Anonymous' was started in Greensboro, North Carolina, by Joanna Price, Founder and Organizer, in November 2017. The Greensboro group is thriving and a Charlotte group (actually Matthews) is getting momentum. Dwight Hurych is the Co-Organizer and works to help groups grow.
If you're interested in hosting a new group contact us, and please visit www.SurvivorsAnonymousGroup.com for more information. We are willing and able to get anyone started anywhere in the world. Thank you for seeking support while supporting your peers.
What is Survivors Anonymous?
'Survivors Anonymous' are peer support meetings for anyone healing from the trauma of childhood physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, mental, narcissistic, occult, and/or ritual abuse or neglect. It is for anyone suffering from the affects of that abuse or neglect, including those experiencing PTSD and C-PTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Please know you are not broken and you are not alone. We are here for each other.
'Survivors Anonymous' Group meetings combine the privacy of a Closed Meetup group with the compassion and empathy of peers who have been there and understand. If you're looking for a safe place to share your story, perhaps for the first time, we welcome you. If you're already on a healing journey, this is place to receive validation and help others.
Although we use free download ASCA Program materials (above), we are not an ASCA Program meeting. We are intentionally less structured than an ASCA Program because we realize wounds needing expression do not fit into a time box. If anyone needs to share, by all means, share. If not, we can read from the ASCA Program materials to get the conversations going.
Who can belong to Survivors Anonymous?
Anyone healing from the trauma and effects of child abuse.
If you are interested in attending the Greensboro group, please visit www.meetup.com/SurvivorsAnonymous and request to join the group. A free Meetup profile is necessary to apply.
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Then too, if you have a background or experience with any 12 Step program you may instantly recognize the possibilities of you creating a group in your home town based on the recently launched ASCAA (Adult Survivors of Child Abuse Anonymous) program, recommended below:
ASCAA 12 Step Program - ASCA12step.org
Who started this?
My name is Bill Murray, and I'm the founder of a couple of highly respected non profit efforts (LACP.org and NAASCA.org) that have been run based on my over 35 years personal understanding and experience with the Steps and Traditions of a so-called "12-Step program." Dozens of groups have been created that emulate the AA program of healing and recovery which was first described in the book Alcoholics Anonymous (aka: The Big Book) in the late 1930's. That's because it works. But none have been inclusive enough to serve a membership seeking to address all the issues of childhood abuse and trauma. Ours does.
We've closely modeled our program of healing and recovery after the AA experience.
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What is ASCAA?
Adult Survivors of Child Abuse Anonymous (ASCAA) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from the abuse and traumas of their youth. The only requirement for membership is a desire to recover and heal. There are no dues or fees for ASCAA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. ASCAA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to recover from the abuse and traumas of our youth and help other now-adult victims to heal from theirs.
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Who can belong to ASCAA?
Any adult who seeks recovery and healing from abuses and trauma in childhood, including sexual assaults, violent or physical abuse, severe emotional traumas or through neglect, may belong. The only requirement for membership is a desire to recover and heal.
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Perhaps the simplest method of starting a group is to invite a partner to join you in a public, peer-to-peer sharing style meeting for survivors. You can start one of these in your own living room and move to a larger space when appropriate. Check with local churches, libraries and social or senior centers when that time comes.
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Main home page: |
Web page for meetings: |
Write here for info: |
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Empower Survivors |
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Empower Survivors - EmpowerSurvivors.net
NAASCA family member Elizabeth Sullivan has done just that, created peer-to-peer sharing style meeting for survivors, and we offer her successful once-a-week meeting as a great example of the simplicity (and great need).
Elizabeth, who's located in St Paul, Minnesota, tells me she will be happy to help guide you.
Who started this?
Elizabeth Sullivan, who writes: "As an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse and rape I know the silence that surrounds this epidemic. How most people do not understand support the adult survivor. Maybe even going as far as telling you to 'get over it', 'It happened so long ago why are you just coming out now', 'It could have been worse', 'Don't make such a big deal out of it' and more. Most people do not understand that as a survivor you may have kept silent and started dealing with the child abuse now when your in your 20's, 30's, 40's or beyond. No matter what stage you are at on your healing journey you deserve support. To be seen and heard."
Elizabeth goes on, "Your stories matter and I have found in my own healing that being with other adult survivors helps you to not only get the support you deserve but surrounds you with supportive people that "get it" or understand. They understand why you may isolate, avoid certain situations, have troubles sleeping, panic attacks, hyper-vigilance, flashbacks, and all the rest. Things can, and do, get better. By surrounding ourselves with proper professional help, and the support of survivors and others that support our healing journey we can find healing. We will never forget but we can come to a point where things do and will get better."
What is Empower Survivors?
According to Elizabeth, "The EmpowerSurvivors Peer Support group was born out of wanting to supply adult survivors with 'safe spaces'. Through my own journey I found very little resources for the adult survivor. Help as children yes, help as teens, yes but for the adult survivor that stayed silent and is now facing the effects of that silence there were very few resources. EmpowerSurvivors hopes to change that by creating more safe spaces for adult survivors to get support, learn, and find healing. As a peer group we can not only get the support we need but support other survivors as well who may be at different stages of their own healing journeys. I believe it is going to take survivors helping survivors to help heal from childhood sexual abuse."
"By breaking our silences and bringing the abuse into the light we can finally begin to heal and unlearn all the negative things our abuse experience teaches. EmpowerSurvivors provides a place to gather with others in a supportive atmosphere. Whether you decide to share in group or not that is something that is up to you. You share when you are ready. No one is ever forced to talk about anything they do not wish to. EmpowerSurvivors is peer facilitated 'open' group meaning you can join at anytime and come as often or as little as you like." .
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