New Group to Empower Survivors

provides counseling and support services in Stamford, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. While the Center provides ongoing services and support for survivors of sexual assault, they try to organize at least two closed groups each year.

The upcoming group, run by two facilitators, will run for ten weeks and meet one evening each week.

"Some people [coming into the group] will have had some individual counseling and decide to move into a group setting, others may have been in other groups in the past," Christina Musso, a counselor at the Center told Patch. "A group lets you know that there are other people who have experiences like yours."

Sexual assault affects every community — regardless of socioeconomic status and other factors — it is also an extremely under-reported crime.

"Our confidentiality policies work against us in some ways," Lynn Tusa, director of development at the Center said. "We're not talking about it, but then people don't realize that it happens in their communities."

The group uses the Trauma Recovery & Empowerment Model — a plan that both Musso and Tracy Guglieri, community educator at the Center, like for the way that it allows women in the group to learn coping skills and feel better about themselves throughout the program.

The first session is devoted to discussions about confidentiality so that every member of the group can feel comfortable sharing and knowing that what is said at the Center will never leave that space.

"[Over the ten weeks,] they become more comfortable with themselves," Guglieri said. "We hope they acquire some skills they can use and remember...in the future they can say "I remember that someone else felt the same way.""

Themes covered over the ten weeks include physical and emotional boundaries, self-esteem,  self-soothing, trust, intimacy, and relationships. During one past group, the facilitators made cupcakes for the final session.

"We like to conclude on a positive note with a lot of hope for the future," Musso said.

The Center constantly checks in with group members to be sure everyone is feeling comfortable and getting what they need from the program. Before joining the group, there is a check-in to be sure it is the right fit for each person. If it isn't, the Center is able to recommend another group, provide individual counseling, or refer to another agency.

"We never turn anyone away," Guglieri said.

"If we can't help them, we'll try to find someone who can," Musso echoed.

If you are interested in taking part in this therapeutic group, call the Center at 203-348-9346 by March 30.