Those who have survived sexual assault are hesitant to talk about what has happened to them and often have difficulty finding the right support system, said Robin Tiedeman, the Sexual Assault Support Services support group program manager. But University students who have been victims of sexual assault now have one more resource for dealing with their experiences.
SASS has joined forces with the University Counseling Center to bring a safe and comfortable environment to University women who can find support with each other. Starting today, the counseling center will host a closed group session once a week until the end of spring term to provide support for University females who have been victims of sexual assault.
“SASS does important work in our community for survivors,” said Dr. Joy Lum, a staff psychologist for the University Counseling Center. “[We] wanted to work jointly with [SASS] because we have mutual goals of helping those who have experienced sexual assault or abuse.”
Students can sign up on a first-come, first-serve basis and take part in the exclusive group, Tiedeman said. The group will be limited to six or eight female University students.
“It’s important not to add people once the group has started,” she said. “The idea is that the group becomes comfortable enough with each other to share their experiences and feelings. If people are added, this can create an uncomfortable situation.”
She has recently taken over the position of support group program coordinator and said she decided that it was time to start a group again, with a new group of sexual assault survivors established every term.
“At this point, the group is just for students in order to present a safe environment,” she said. “If the group flourishes, we may be able to add a faculty group.”
Tiedeman and Lum agree that support from others who have shared the same experience can mean a lot to a sexual assault survivor.
“So often survivors fear they must have done something wrong or have been bad to be assaulted or experience abuse,” Lum said, “and while this is not the case, groups like the one we are forming help survivors find more power and feel less alienated.”
Lara Modisette, a sexual assault prevention and education coordinator for the ASUO Women’s Center, said the center supports the group.
“We get women looking for support resources all the time,” Modisette said. “A group atmosphere might be more comfortable.”
Tiedeman warns that a group atmosphere might not be best for everyone. For those who need that support, there are strict guidelines of confidentiality.
“Students will need to make agreements with each other on how they communicate outside the group,” Tiedeman said.
The group will meet today from 12:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the University Counseling Center. To sign up, call the Counseling Center at 346-3227 or SASS at 484-9791.