HOME

24-Hour Domestic Abuse Hotline: 208.343.7025

EXIT

WCA Support Groups

24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 208.343.7025 24-hour Rape Crisis Hotline: 208.345.7273 (RAPE)

Written by Kayla Hudson, LMSW, WCA Clinician

Depositphotos_42170947_s-2015The WCA offers multiple groups for residential and community clients.  Groups are often an essential part of the healing process for many of our clients and can be a good support for clients receiving other services such as case management, trauma therapy, court advocacy or financial literacy.

One of the challenging parts of abuse is overcoming the secrecy.  Children who  have grown up in abusive homes or been victimized themselves may have been threatened that if they tell or talk about the abuse, something bad will happen to them or others.  Often, adults who experienced these things as children carry secrets of abuse with them.  Adults who are abused often keep secrets due to shame, fear of not being believed or threat of harm if they do tell.  Group can be one of the most powerful ways to overcome the secrecy of abuse.  Clients know that group participants have been through a similar type of experience.  This feeling of shared experience and understanding is liberating, especially as clients have the opportunity to share about what they have gone through.

Another benefit of a support group is that it can be a stepping stone for women who are hesitant to pursue other services or are unsure whether or not they are in an abusive relationship.  Asking for help is difficult because it involves admitting that something is wrong.  It takes a great deal of courage to call the crisis line or walk through the front door at the WCA.   This is one reason we provide an orientation for all of our groups.  The Domestic Abuse Orientation gives an introduction to intimate partner violence by reviewing definitions, statistics, the power and control wheel and the cycle of violence.  It gives a basic overview of how abuse can affect individuals and families.  This orientation gives the women a common understanding and language to enter group.

RAP is our support group for domestic abuse.  In this support group, facilitators encourage clients to share challenges and successes as they move through their healing journey.  The clients speak from their experience sharing what worked for them as they heal.  Clients often comment how helpful it is to hear how other people have experienced similar things.  They feel that they are no longer alone; which helps to overcome the isolation that abusers use as a tactic of power and control.  RAP is unique in that clients are in all stages of the healing journey; some are still with their abusers, others are recently separated, while some women have been separated for months or years.  They learn from each other, receive support, and come alongside one another to move forward in their journey.  As a facilitator I have learned a great deal from my clients by being present at RAP.   It is a great honor to be a witness to their resilience and courage as they share.

RAP has been an essential part of the WCA services for many years.  It continues to succeed because women find it helpful and continue to utilize it as a service.  If you or someone you know would benefit from this group, please call the WCA for more information.

Back to Blog >>

EVENTS

Sep 29

2023

Domestic Violence Awareness Month – 2023

Domestic Violence Awareness Month October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the WCA will be holding a joint press conference on September 29 at the Idaho Peace Officers’ Memorial at 10am. The WCA and other Domestic Violence service providers will be on site with information and awareness raising materials for our community members. Elected officials […]

learn more

Oct 01

2023

Sue B Stroll and 5K October 1, 2023

Join us for the 14th annual SueB 5k  and  3k  Urban  stroll  for  Every-Body Continuing to honor the memory of Susan “SueB” Newby, the 14th annual SueB 5K Fun Run will kick off on Sunday, October 1st at 12 noon at Julia Davis Park. You can sign up to participate here with 5K registration starting at $25. […]

learn more

Oct 01

2023

SueB 5k and Family Friendly Scavenger Hunt October 1, 2023

Join us for the 14th annual SueB 5k and 3k Family Friendly Scavenger Hunt for EveryBODY! The 14th annual SueB 5k and 3k Scavenger Hunt will be on October 1, 2023 and we hope you can join us! We invite you to join us to raise awareness about domestic abuse, while memorializing the life of […]

learn more

Oct 18

2023

Witches Night Out at the Village

Mark your calendars for Witches Night Out on October 18, 2023 from 6 – 9 p.m. Wednesday, October 18 we will be celebrating Witches Night Out at The Village at Meridian, hosted by Meridian’s Centercal Properties and its marvelous merchants. Several sponsors help make the evening a resounding success, raising funds for the WCA’ clients’ […]

learn more

Dec 14

2023

Concert for Cause

Mark you calendars for 2023 Concert for Cause – December 14th Thursday, December 14th 94.9 The River is excited to present headlining artist Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness with Michigander and Arlie for their 2023 Concert for Cause benefitting the WCA! Join us at The Knitting Factory Concert House in Bodo for an evening of […]

learn more

GET INVOLVED

PREVENTION & OUTREACH

VOLUNTEER

DONATE

© 2021 Women's and Children's Alliance | Privacy Policy | Equal Opportunity Policies