Summary of the Group Work Approach


Respond SA Group Work


Past participants have said that they found group work to be useful because:

  • They do not feel so alone
  • They know they are not the only one
  • They hear other ways that people have coped
  • It is an opportunity to share knowledge and understanding of what their experience means to them
  • They can understand more fully that it’s not their fault
  • Their experience and skills and knowledge are significantly acknoweldged
  • They have something to offer other people in groups.

In the groups Respond SA have run, participants are encouraged not to speak about the details of the abuse as past participants have told us that it can be difficult and sometimes traumatic to hear others speak about the details of their abuse. The focus of the groups is most often on the ongoing impact and effects of the abuse in daily life and the sharing of ways of dealing with these effects.

A summary of what some of the Respond SA groups included:

  • Group work programmes mostly run for approximately eight weeks.
  • The first week is usually a time for setting the scene for the rest of the time together and for getting to know each other. 
  • Group agreements and what has been helpful in the past in talking about abuse are discussed and there is a chance to learn a little about each other.
  • The group also gets to know a little about the facilitators. Setting a safe environment for future discussions is an important part of these first meetings.
  • Not every group is the same, but often information might be provided about what is understood by child sexual abuse , the shared effects for people are discussed as well as challenging some of the strong ideas in society about childhood sexual abuse that have been limiting for people.
  • The facilitators will also ask the group to share what issues are most important for them to discuss, and the remaining seven weeks will be based on those ideas.
  • The overall focus of these groups is about minimizing the effects that abuse is having in people's lives and in connecting people more to what is important to them.  

Women's groups
Women's groups provide an opportunity for participants to share the particular knowledges and skills which have helped them in managing the ongoing effects of abuse in their lives. Some of the effects such as shame, feelings of responsiblility, secrecy and silencing, which have been powerfully influencing womens lives are discussed and considered.  Issues that might be particular to women's experience are discussed.

Men's groups
These groups for men, provide an opportunity for participants to share the particular knowledges and skills which have helped them in managing the ongoing effects of abuse in their lives. Some of the effects such as shame, feelings of responsiblility, secrecy and silencing, which have been powerfully influencing men's lives are discussed and considered.  Issues that might be particular to men's experience are discussed.