Women’s Trauma Recovery Group
Starting Thursday March 7th, 2024
Thursdays 6:30-8:00
A 10-week therapy group for women struggling with the last impacts of sexual abuse, sexual assault, or intimate partner violence.
facilitated by Laura Balin, LCSW
This therapy group is for women who have experience sexual or interpersonal violence, sexual abuse, or other adverse experiences related to sexual or personal safety.
This group is for you if you’ve already connected to a therapist to establish basic coping and self care skills and are ready to connect with other women for support, to share your storie, an have a safe space to discuss what you continue to struggle with day to day as a trauma survivor.
Does the past continue to impact your everyday life?
Many women who’ve experienced interpersonal trauma:
Struggle with trust and getting close in relationships
Tend to be really hard on yourself and self-critical
Have hard time calming down or feel sluggish or numb
Feel shame and guilt
Struggle with feeling anxious or shut down
Feel isolated and alone
Find healthy sexual relationships triggering
You are not alone
Get connected
You’ll experience:
The support of other women who have been there and understand
The relief of being able to talk about your experiences in a safe and suportive space with trained facilitators
You’ll Find:
A greater sense of control
That you are not alone
Community where you belong
What to expect
Each session will follow the same structure.
We will kick of the first meeting with ample time getting to know each other, establishing group rules, and discussing your personal goal for the group. During this first session, significant attention will be paid to creating a sense of safety with the other women and getting to know each other. Subsequent sessions will focus on the unique experiences of the members of the group.
Your goal and your story.
Our trained facilitators will help you set your personal goal for your time in the group. Each week 2-3 members will have focused time to discuss their goal and how they are doing with discussion and feedback from the other members.
Caring support
You’ll get caring, nonjudgemental support from the other women as you share your personal goal and have the opportunity to provide support in return.
Learn you’re not the only one
A key take away from this experience will be learning that you can relate to other people with similar experiences and that other people struggle with the same things as you. Clients will often voice very common concerns in their individual therapy sessions that make them feel ashamed or alone. Having a space to talk about these topics with other women who can relate is a powerful and often healing experience.
Meet the Facilitator
Laura Balin, LCSW is a trained trauma clinician in clinical supervisor with years of experience. Laura has worked in community mental health settings and with tribal organizations providing mental health treatment in individual therapy and group therapy for women who’ve experienced trauma. She utilizes expressive arts, narrative treatment, somatic approaches and more to help her clients heal from traumatic memories.
Co-facilitator
Kiley Fine is completing her Master’s of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Adams State University. She is completing a one year clinical intern at Virago Wellness where she is working with LGBTQIA+ clients as well as individuals who’ve experienced trauma and struggle with body image challenges.
FAQs
Who is a good fit?
This is an offering for women who’ve experienced sexual trauma, sexual assault, sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, or other
When does the group meet?
This group meets for 10 sessions on Thursdays from 6:30-8:00 in person at 63 Ocean St South Portland, ME starting March 7th.
What’s the cost?
This offering is $300 per person for the full 10 weeks. Sliding scale spots may be available.
What’s the commitment?
You are committing to the full 10 week experience. The program fee is nonrefundable (exceptions made for emergencies that do not allow participants to continue). Spots are limited and we do not have new members start midway through the program.
What are the next steps?
Email laura@viragowellness.com for more information. An intake session will be scheduled to gather a detailed history, assess needs, and ensure fit. An intake session can be billed to insurance. You may also request an initial free phone consultation.