WINGS Facilitated Peer Support Groups

WINGS Facilitated Peer Support Groups are open to men and women, 18 and over. Only survivors of childhood sexual abuse are allowed to attend WINGS groups.

Each group is facilitated by a professional, carefully screened and trained by the WINGS staff. WINGS facilitators do not provide therapy. Their role is to provide safety, stability and structure to the group, allowing group members to focus on their own issues rather than taking care of each other.

WINGS Peer Support Groups focus on the impact of childhood sexual abuse on the members. Some of the topics discussed in group include:

• Accepting love

• Recognizing addictions, compulsions and other survival mechanisms

• Accepting total responsibility for one's own happiness

• Returning responsibility for the abuse to the perpetrator

• Learning to accept that the sexual abuse really happened

• Practicing setting appropriate boundaries

• Learning to respect and love oneself by taking positive actions honoring self

Group members also discuss intimacy, trust, depression, self-esteem, dissociation, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts and other issues common to survivors.

Joining a Group

1. All survivors interested in joining a WINGS group must first contact the WINGS office to complete a brief telephone intake. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We can be reached at (303) 238-8660 in the metro-area and (800) 373-8671 outside the metro-area.

2. An orientation meeting will be scheduled with the group facilitator, in order to explain our purposes, policies and group formats. The facilitator will contact the prospective group member directly to schedule the orientation. Orientation meetings are often held right before the group meets. New members can attend their first group immediately after orientation.

3. At orientation, new members receive Survivors' Guide to Healing, which is used at every group meeting. WINGS asks for $25.00 at orientation to cover the cost of the handbook.

4. All groups meet weekly for two hours. Members can attend groups for as long as they choose. There is no time limit. We encourage members to attend weekly, but do not require it. The cost of the group is based on a siding scale determined by your household income, but no one is turned away due to an inability to pay.

5. Each group has a Current Contact Person in addition to the facilitator. This is a group member who volunteers to maintain the phone list and welcome other group members.

6. Groups are considered full when eight members are attending every week.

7. Group meeting locations are kept confidential.