Group Counseling and Workshops

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BARCC offers group counseling and workshops for survivors and people who are close to them. 

All groups and workshops are free. If you are interested in submitting a request for group counseling, you may fill out a request online or call the office at 617-492-8306. 

BARCC groups run on an ongoing basis. Please contact us as mentioned above for an intake and to learn more about group requirements.

BARCC groups are only available to non-perpetrators of sexual violence.

View Upcoming Support Groups & Educational Workshops

Healing from Sexual Trauma Phase 1

• Group members: adult survivors age 18 and older
• Group types: 
  • Women: welcomes transgender women, cisgender women, and genderqueer and gender-nonconforming people 
  • Men: welcomes transgender men, cisgender men, and genderqueer and gender-nonconforming people 
  • Gender-expansive: welcomes all gender identities and presentations 
  • Transgender and nonbinary: welcomes people in transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming communities
• Spanish-speaking survivors: Group develops as requested by survivors. Could include men, women, and nonbinary survivors
• Number of sessions: 8
• Format: psychoeducation group using weekly worksheets
• Group requirement: prior individual counseling around the sexual trauma, weekly individual counseling during group, about one year post trauma, and assessment by group facilitators 
• Survivors must be in Massachusetts if participating in telehealth groups.

This group provides its members with a forum to discuss the impact of sexual violence on their lives and their relationships. It also explores useful ways to cope with common challenges faced by all survivors of sexual violence. Topics of weekly worksheets include the impacts of sexual violence, safety, coping, self-care, guilt/shame/self-blame, trust, anger, relationships, and taking meaning from your experience.

Upcoming groups:

• Gender-expansive group: Winter 2023 (Dates and times to be announced)
• Men's group: Winter 2023 (Dates and times to be announced)

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Healing from Sexual Trauma Phase 2

• Group members: adult survivors age 18 and older
• Group types: 
  • Women: welcomes transgender women, cisgender women, and genderqueer and gender-nonconforming people 
  • Men: welcomes transgender men, cisgender men, and genderqueer and gender-nonconforming people 
  • Gender-expansive: welcomes all gender identities and presentations 
  • Spanish-speaking survivors: Group develops as requested by survivors. Could include men, women, and nonbinary survivors.
• Number of sessions: 8–10
• Format: processing group using various self-reflective exercises and expressive therapies
• Group requirement: prior individual counseling about the sexual trauma, completion of Phase I group, weekly individual counseling during group, and assessment by group facilitators
• Survivors must be in Massachusetts if participating in telehealth groups.

This group provides a supportive environment for members to directly address their trauma experiences and foster a more holistic, unified sense of self. Topics include paths to healing, identifying context, reconnecting to self, sharing self, grief and loss, caring for self, and life beyond trauma.

Upcoming group: 

• Gender expansive group: To be announced

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Partners, Family, and Friends Group

• Group members: adult significant others, age 18 and older, including intimate partners, family, and friends of survivors
• Gender-expansive: welcomes all gender identities and presentations 
• Number of sessions: 7
• Format: support and psychoeducation group
• Group requirement: assessment by group facilitators
• Participants must be in Massachusetts if participating in telehealth groups.

This group provides a safe and supportive space for partners, friends, loved ones, and family of survivors of sexual violence. The group focuses on understanding the impacts of sexual trauma on the survivor, on themselves as significant others, and their relationships with the survivor. It also provides useful ways to cope with common challenges faced by significant others and helpful ways to provide support to survivors.

Upcoming group: To be announced

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Coping Skills Group for Survivors

• Members: adult survivors of sexual violence, all genders, ages 18 and older
• Number of sessions: 6
• Format: art, grounding, and mindfulness techniques to increase access to coping skills
• Requirement: current individual counseling

The group will provide an introduction to coping skills. Group members will practice various grounding techniques, explore mindfulness, and support each other in creating a “coping tool box” of activities and practices.

Upcoming group: Winter 2023 (Dates and times to be announced)

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Teen Coping Skills Group

• Members: teen survivors of sexual violence, all genders, ages 13–17
• Number of sessions: 6
• Format: art, grounding, and mindfulness techniques to increase access to coping skills
• Requirement: current individual counseling

The group will provide an introduction to coping skills that is specifically created for teen survivors of sexual violence. Group members will support each other in creating connections, reducing isolation, and exploring stereotypes around healing. Like the adult group, teen members will also practice various grounding techniques, explore mindfulness, and support each other in creating a “coping tool box” of activities and practices.

Upcoming group: This group forms based on participant interest. Please contact us at 617-492-8306. 

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Sanando del trauma (Healing from Trauma)

• Miembros: mujeres hispanohablantes que son sobrevivientes de la violencia sexual
• Número de sesiones: 3 o más
• Formato: grupo de apoyo o talleres 
• Requisito: terapia individual

Este grupo de apoyo brinda un espacio seguro para mujeres, adultas y hispanohablantes quienes son sobrevivientes de violencia sexual para hablar del impacto del trauma. Los miembros del grupo son  mujeres adultas que han experimentado distinto tipos de violencia sexual como abuso sexual, violación y el abuso sexual infantil e incesto. El grupo se enfoca en los efectos del trauma y como navegarlos en una sociedad y cultura latina. Temas de las sesiones incluyen: violencia sexual y el impacto, herramientas para aliviar síntomas del trauma, autocuidado, lidiar con sentimientos de vergüenza, imagen corporal, confiarse en lxs demás y autoestima.

Si le interesa usted en la consejería de grupo, favor de realizar una solicitud en línea o llamar a la oficina al 617-902-2917. 

• Members: Spanish-speaking women who are survivors of sexual violence
• Number of sessions: 3 or more
• Format: support group or workshops
• Requirement: individual therapy

This group supports adult, Spanish-speaking, women who are survivors of sexual violence. The group provides a safe space to address the impact of the trauma. The focus of this group is how the trauma is affected by the Latinx culture. Topics for the weekly sessions may include: understanding sexual violence and its impact; coping skills for symptoms of trauma; self-care; dealing with feelings of shame, self-blame, difficulty trusting, body image, and self-esteem; and taking meaning from one’s experiences.

If you are interested in submitting a request for group counseling, you may fill out a request online or call the office at 617-492-8306. 

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Educational workshops for survivors and supporters

Virtual survivor support workshops

Don't miss our video workshop series that explores self-care, coping, and connection for survivors. The series also includes a variety of shorter exercises that can be used on their own or together with the longer sessions.

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Virtual workshops for significant others

Partners, family members, and friends of survivors may have questions about how they can be supportive throughout the healing process. Delve into our video workshops that explore commonly asked questions, how to set healthy boundaries, keeping up your relationships, and self-care tips. 

Upcoming

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Past

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