Out Of The Silence Support Group
Out of the Silence Support Group (OSSUG) is a free support group for victims and survivors of sexual abuse. This group will be suitable for any survivor who has the capacity to attend regular virtual group meetings with a focus on sharing psychoeducational resources to support the healing journey.
Goals
To provide communal support for survivors of sexual abuse.
To equip survivors with resources to improve overall health and mental wellbeing.
To empower survivors to transcend trauma and heal in an empowering way.
Duration
Sessions will typically last 90-150 minutes long and will occur four times a month for a total of 10 sessions.
Membership
Membership is currently limited to female survivors of sexual abuse. However, plans are being made to offer support in the near future to male survivors, non offending parents, Christian survivors who want a faith- based healing approach as well as friends and loved ones of survivors. To register your interest to join the support group, please click here.
Disclaimer
Please note that this is a psychoeducational group and not a self-help or psychotherapy group. This group is not meant to be a substitute for personal therapy. (Click here to see our directory of mental health services). Furthermore, although the founder is Christian, this support group does not use a faith-based approach to healing trauma. As such, the group is open to survivors from all faith backgrounds.
About the Founder and Facilitator
Dr. Irene Afriyie Boafo is a Pharmacist by profession with a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree. She also has a certificate in Psychological First Aid Training from John Hopkins University Online. In 2021, she authored her debut devotional titled "Out Of The Silence" which facilitated the need for this support group. Last but not least, Irene is also a survivor herself, and wishes for all survivors to find their voice and heal. Connect with Irene on X and Instagram @inkedwithrenni
FAQs
What is a psychoeducational support group?
Psychoeducational support groups focus on providing emotional support and information to people with a common problem. Unlike self-help groups, the primary focus of psychoeducational groups is to provide education and support, and to increase knowledge and coping skills, rather than to attempt to change some aspect of the person. While it is hoped that those who attend psychoeducational support groups learn information to increase their functioning in the world, attempting to change the person is not their primary goal. Psychoeducational support groups also differ from self-help groups in that they are facilitated through the use of a structured curriculum or agenda.
Why is membership limited to female survivors only?
The debut support group program is going to start with female survivors, however, measures are being put in place to accommodate male survivors as well afterwards. Programs for non-offending family and friends as well as survivors who would prefer a faith-based approach towards healing is also underway.
After registration, what happens?
After registering to join the OSSUG, you will receive an email within 72hours on any further information you will need.
How can I contact the facilitator if I have any concerns?
You can email all questions to ossuginfo@gmail.com
Will the meetings be online or in-person?The meetings will be held online on Google meet.
What safety measures will be put in place to protect members of the support group? Before the support group program starts, each member will be given a confidentiality agreement to sign. Confidentiality is the most principal value of OSSUG and we will not tolerate anything otherwise. Meetings will also not be recorded.
Why is it called Out of the Silence?
After experiencing the most horrendous kind of hurt, many survivors / victims feel alone and isolated and unable to speak about what happened to them. I had this wound I could not talk about. It ate me up from the inside till the point I was ready to give up on life. Till I decided to finally speak about it. Then, slowly I navigated the maze of healing and recovery. I call it my stepping "Out of the Silence". In 2021, I wrote a devotional about it. Now, I want to extend this opportunity to others. An opportunity to begin the work towards healing.
"What cannot be talked about can also not be put to rest, and if it is not, the wounds continue to fester from generation to generation." ~Bruno Bettelheim
How do I join?
Click on this link to register
Will the support group be based on the devotional?
While the founder and facilitator is open about her Christian faith, OSSUG does not use a faith-based approach. The program is borrowed from the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs WCSAP.