Group Therapy for Women Survivors of Trauma
Healing in Community
When we experience trauma, our sense of self and the way we perceive the world around us becomes hijacked. Many women who have faced traumatic events feel a need to “keep the secret,” thus compounding their pain with isolation, dissociation, hypervigilance, and shame. Survivors of trauma can even feel that they themselves are “bad” and not deserving of a happy, healthy life.
Sharing a traumatic experience with others can restore a sense of connectedness, meaning, and understanding. The goal of group psychotherapy is to provide this kind of corrective emotional experience in which the dynamics of self-blaming, silencing, and disbelief of the victim are shared and then worked through.
Schedule a free informational call or call us at (424) 371-5191
A group therapist will call you to discuss the group and waiting periods
The Groups
WILA’s Women Trauma Group is a group for women who have experienced sexual trauma. This is a small group that meets over Zoom on Mondays from 6-7pm. If you would like to participate in our next 10-week group, please reach out to our front desk at 424-371-5191 for more information or to schedule a confidential intake assessment.
Group discussion will arise organically, but some of the following topics will likely be addressed:
- Revelation of each participant’s trauma experience(s)
- Description of how trauma has influenced members’ lives including: intimacy, sexuality, one’s relationship with their body
- Discussions of how shame, hypervigilance, dissociation, and PTSD affect survivors in daily life
- Development of a supportive community of other women who truly understand
Commitment & Cost
Participants must commit to attending group in 10-week intervals and must also be engaged in individual treatment at WILA or with an outside therapist. WILA may assist you in finding an individual therapist.
Frequently Asked Qs
Do I have to share the details of my trauma?
Sharing the details of your trauma(s) with others can restore a sense of connectedness, meaning, and understanding, however, disclosure should always be a voluntary act. Our groups are intended for women who feel ready to begin to voluntarily disclose and work through their traumatic experiences. Our intake therapist will help you determine your readiness to share, and to hear, stories of sexual trauma. We may recommend a period of individual therapy before beginning a Women’s Trauma group.
Will I feel safe in the group?
This is one of the most important questions you can ask! Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee safety. Talking about trauma, like any therapy, has both benefits and risks. One of the risks is that symptoms, memories, and discomfort can get worse before getting better. The group facilitators are prepared to help engender a feeling of safety for you and the other members. Your most important task is communicating your needs to the best of your ability.
What if I already have an individual therapist?
Meeting weekly with an outside individual therapist meets the requirement to participate in the WILA’s Women’s Trauma group without signing up for individual therapy at WILA. We will require that a release is signed so that our group therapists and your individual therapist can speak when necessary. This will be discussed with group members individually and will be handled thoughtfully to balance your privacy and responsible coordination of care.
Will my insurance pay for the group?
In keeping with WILA’s mission, our Women’s Trauma Group is priced to be an affordable alternative for those who do not have adequate health insurance benefits and/or cannot afford expensive private treatment. Participants are expected to pay WILA directly at the time of service. If requested, your therapist will provide you with a superbill, an itemized form listing healthcare services rendered, which you must submit directly to your insurance provider to request reimbursement. This is a common way to have insurance to pay for out-of-network benefits. Approval for reimbursement as well as rates will depend on the terms of your insurance policy. We encourage you to call your insurance provider to better understand these terms before beginning the group.
Who will be facilitating the group?
WILA’s Women’s Trauma groups are facilitated by pre-licensed therapists enrolled in WILA’s Psychology Internship and Postgraduate Fellowship. The facilitators are supervised by licensed mental health professionals on WILA’s Teaching and Supervising Faculty with input from WILA’s Executive Director, Michele Gomes, Psy.D.
Where does the group take place?
WILA’s Women’s Trauma groups are conducted virtually online via Zoom.
I’m a clinician and would like to refer to the group. Who do I contact?
We welcome referrals and ideas for potential collaborations. WILA’s Women’s Trauma group is ideal as an adjunctive group therapy experience for women you are seeing in individual treatment. Participation in group therapy can reduce isolation and increase relatedness by bringing together individuals struggling with similar issues. We offer a free telephone consultation with you and a free in-depth consultation via Zoom with your client. Call (424) 371-5191 and request to speak to a trauma group leader.
What is WILA’s mission?
WILA is at the forefront of a therapy movement, changing the ways people are treated when they need help but are held back by financial, cultural and systemic barriers. We serve the diverse communities of Los Angeles by providing affordable high-quality psychotherapy services while training the next generation of socially conscious mental health professionals. [Learn More]