Support Groups

You are not alone, and you can feel better!

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center offers support groups for women, men, parents and youth.

What are Support Groups?

Support groups provide a safe environment to process the ways in which your history of rape or sexual abuse impacts life today with others who have had similar experiences.  Sexual assault and rape victim support groups are closed and meet weekly for 90 minutes and last 10 to 12 weeks each.  Groups may take place at the Clark-Fulton, Shaker Square, Westlake, and Ashtabula offices.

Support groups are typically offered twice a year, based on interest.

How to Participate

For more information about support groups, call (216) 619-6192.  A pre-group interview is required for participation. Most group participants will have completed individual therapy related to their sexual trauma before participating in a support group.

Current Support Groups

Strength in Support (Women) is a 10- to 12-week support group that provides women survivors of rape and sexual abuse (18 and up) with a safe environment to process the ways in which each participant’s history of sexual trauma impacts life today. Participants will receive support and information on trauma, as well as opportunities to explore issues of coping, trust, self-worth and other challenges.

Strength in Support (Men) is a 10- to 12-week support group that provides male survivors of rape and sexual abuse (18 and up) with a safe environment to process the ways in which each participant’s history of sexual trauma impacts life today. Participants will receive support and information on trauma, as well as opportunities to explore issues of coping, trust, self-worth and other challenges.

Trauma 101 (Women) is a 10- to 12-week educational support group specifically designed for women survivors who have a history of complex trauma and focuses on what trauma is, how it may be impacting your life and how to cope.  This group will offer support in regaining feelings of safety and personal empowerment.  Each group session focuses on a different topic and provides members an opportunity to learn information as well as explore their own experiences in the company of peer survivors. (En Español)

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (Women) is a 12-week support group focusing on a specific approach to yoga practice which supports trauma survivors in the healing process.  It’s a very gentle approach to yoga that leverages the mind-body connection in ways that help survivors address diverse symptoms of traumatic stress and related conditions such as anxiety and depression, and cultivate a more positive relationship with their bodies.

Black Women Support Space Are you a Black woman survivor of sexual violence? Do you have an open case in the criminal justice system? Cleveland Rape Crisis Center’s new support space, led by Black women for Black women, will offer psychoeducation and peer support for survivors with cases at any stage of the criminal justice process. (Non-clinical support group)