WINNEMUCCA - Winnemucca Domestic Violence Services continues to sponsor the Winnemucca Survivors Support Group. The group is open to women aged 18 and older who are survivors of any form of abuse or violence.
Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of every month from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The group is facilitated by Annie Perkins, LCSW. There are absolutely no fees or any other cost to attend the group. Group meetings are currently patterned around exercises from the workbook "Healing the Trauma of Abuse" by Mary Ellen Copeland, MA-MS and Maxine Harris PhD.
"The workbook is divided into four sections, " Perkins explained. "The first part is on empowerment. The second is trauma recovery. Part three is on creating life changes, and part four is closing rituals."
Perkins stressed that all work done has practical applications in the lives of group participants.
"Each section talks about an issue, then there are questions to enable each group member to apply the information they have just learned to themselves in a personal way," she said.
Empowerment section topics include "taking stock and getting started," "what it means to be a woman," "physical boundaries," "self-esteem," "self-soothing" and "female sexuality." Once participants have moved through these and other empowerment topics, the trauma recovery section offers the opportunity to explore issues such as "understanding trauma," "physical safety" and "addictive or compulsive behaviors."
Group participants then learn about creating life changes by delving into subjects such as "family myths and distortions," "current family life," decision making: trusting your judgment" and "feeling out of control."
Perkins further stressed that the group is open to women of any faith or spiritual belief system, noting that the "closing rituals" section does not consist of "rituals" as they are commonly defined. Instead, "closing rituals" provides an opportunity for participants to revisit the issue of "what it means to be a woman" and examine "truths and myths about abuse" one final time.
While group members work through the topics together, the conclusions each person draws and applies to her life will be personal. Anyone who chooses to attend group meetings can be assured that anything she shares will remain safe and confidential.
Those who may hesitate to attend due to difficulties finding and paying for child care are welcome to bring their children along. Children do not participate in the group, but a WDVS staff member will be on hand to provide childcare during the group session at no charge.
Any woman who feels she may benefit from some extra support as she moves through the process of surviving is urged to attend the group. Detailed information about meeting locations and any answers to any other questions potential participants may have can be obtained by calling Winnemucca Domestic Violence Services at 625-1313.
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