Local News

New support group formed for abuse survivors

BUCKHANNON -- A new support group in Buckhannon will bring together adult survivors of neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse to help them move from surviving to thriving.

The Adult Survivors of Child Abuse group emerged from discussions Shauna Jones and Matt Kerner had about the need for an adult support group in the community.

"Matt thought that with my counseling background and huge interest in finding solutions to some of our community issues that I could help with this," she said. "We know how needed it is in the community. Unaddressed childhood trauma can lead to problems in relationships, employment and education. If you have not healed from some of that trauma and things trigger it, it can really get in the way of a fully functioning life."

The meetings will be held weekly on Tuesdays at the Opportunity House Recovery Center, 47 Cleveland Ave., from 7-8:30 p.m. The first session is scheduled for Feb. 4.

Participants from other counties are welcome. Jones said they have not found a support group of this type in surrounding counties and have received interest already from people in other counties.

Jones, who has a Master of Arts in counseling from West Virginia University, is now Dean of Students at Buckhannon-Upshur High School.

However, this group will be for adults, ages 18 and older, and is being offered free.

The open format of the meetings means that the group will be led by the participants sharing their stories.

"We may bring on a couple more co-facilitators, but the meeting will be led primarily by those who are attending," she said. "No one is forced to share. Sometimes just sitting and absorbing can help start the healing process until someone is ready to vocalize their trauma."

Adult Survivors of Child Abuse is an international self-help support group designed specifically for adult survivors of neglect, physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse, according to information from www.ascasupport.org.

The program uses gentle encouragement and support to transform an individual's self-identify from victim to survivor to thriver.

"On occasion, we will do topic meetings, but the majority of the meetings will be a chance for survivors to understand that, one, they are not alone and two, to gain insight from each other's perspectives," Jones said. "We want to emphasize that this is not a therapy group. It will be therapeutic in nature, but that is not the intent of this group."

There is also a formal step program offered through ASCA that is similar to AA and NA but is not mandatory, according to Jones. The step program will not be part of the weekly groups but the group participants may wish to follow the steps on their own.

For more information, contact Jones at 304-704-8371 or shaunajones70@yahoo.com.