Survivors Anonymous Group would not be possible without the resources and guidance from The Morris Center and the ASCA Program. It is upon their foundation we seek to spread the good news of the possibility of healing and to make it easy for survivors everywhere to give and get the peer support they need and desire.
All resources and materials cataloged below are specific to the ASCA Program except where noted. The links go directly to a page or resource file on www.ASCASupport.org, the only official site of the Norma J. Morris Center and the Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA) Program. All links open in a new window so you will not lose your place here.
Getting Started as a Survivor
Survivor to Thriver Manual
The Survivor to Thriver manual is an essential guidebook for ASCA Program participants, as well as for any survivor of physical, sexual and/or emotional child abuse or neglect. This 115 page manual describes the transformative journey from victim, to survivor, to thriver. It is intended to be used both in meetings and for individual work, with or without a therapist.
Survivor to Thriver Manual - Online Version
This web-based interactive format of the manual has been indexed for easier use.
Survivor to Thriver Manual - Print Version (from Lulu.com)
You can purchase a coil bound, 8.5 x 11 inch printout of the Survivor to Thriver manual with color cover for $19.99 (plus shipping) using the link above. Printing, shipping and sale is handled by Lulu.com.
Survivor to Thriver Manual - English PDF
This PDF file contains the complete Survivor to Thriver manual. It is provided for those who wish to read this format online, keep a copy on their computer, or print a copy.
Survivor to Thriver Manual - Other Versions
Use this link to go to the ASCA Support website for links to get a Spanish or Korean language PDF, or to get the Survivor to Thriver Manual for Kindle or Nook format.
Getting Help
Finding a Meeting
These lists are not exhaustive, nor are they static. We hope these and other lists will continue to grow rapidly as more and more survivors are able to find and/or start meetings. Survivors Anonymous is a specifically ASCA Program-based Private Meetup format intended to maximize safety and anonymity.
Great effort has been made by volunteers to manage and discover the contact information for available meetings, not all of which are in ASCA Program format, but may be useful. Please contact us if any of these lists need to be updated, or contact the list owner themselves.
ASCA Program Peer Support Meeting Locations
This is a list of known ASCA Program peer support meetings maintained on the ASCA Support website. It includes a couple online 'virtual' meetings, Canadian locations, and public/private Meetup groups.
National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse Recovery Groups
This is a GLOBAL effort to list every English speaking recovery group and / or service they (NAASCA) can find world-wide. They have now completed what originally seemed like a daunting project, listing ALL the English speaking Recovery Groups and Services they can find, not only in North America, but from around the world.
Finding a Therapist
This task is made easier with guidelines and therapist profiles. Probably the best therapist is one who comes with a positive recommendation from a trusted friend. Short of that, there is plenty of information that can be found via a Internet search of 'how to find a good therapist' or similar search phrase. Psychology Today maintains a very good listing and the following guideline may be helpful in your search as well. Be sure the therapist is safe and experienced in your area of abuse and/or neglect.
ASCA Program Finding a Therapist Guide - PDF Version
This is a helpful guide to assist ASCA Program members who are actively searching for a therapist by Karen Mills.
Psychology Today - Find a Therapist
This is not ASCA Support related, but it is a well-used resource by therapists to market themselves. You can search this database by location. The default country is 'US' (for me anyway) but that can easily be changed if necessary.
Starting a Peer Support Meeting Group
Overview
If you are unable to locate an ASCA Program peer support group meeting in your area, you might want to to consider starting one. The ASCA Program provides all the materials you need for the attendee and to run the meeting with predictability, consistency, and safety. It might help to think of the three P's of starting a peer support meeting group:
Independent of the ASCA Program, using Meetup (www.meetup.com) is good way to handle the People portion of a peer support group, especially a Private Meetup group that allows for anonymous membership and meeting location. The membership can be managed and communicated with through the Meetup platform. This makes it easy to announce meeting events to the members. The platform also promotes Meetup groups to those in the area with similar interests as the topics for the group.
Being a Meetup Organizer does have its costs in subscribing to that role in Meetup. At Survivors Anonymous groups, the Organizer or Co-Organizers provide that funding as a donation to the group and do not charge the membership. It only accepts free will contributions. The idea is to keep the cost structure similar to that of an AA meeting: self-sustaining through the contributions of it's members.
The place can be a challenge because there are so many variables from one location to another. Usually, ASCA Support meetings can be held at places where AA and other 12-Step or different support meetings are held. Such places might charge rent for the room, which might make it cost prohibitive. Or, it might be a matter of networking to find who has a place available to meet. Or, perhaps a public facility, such as a local library, or an eatery has a private room that can be reserved.
Process is where the ASCA Program comes in. The reading material and guidelines are very well defined for the process. Facilitating the meetings is intended to be a shared responsibility among the attendees. Ideally, there are two per meeting, neither of which is considered the meeting leader. Rather, they lead together, or co-facilitate the meeting together.
ASCA Program - Co-Facilitator Training
This PDF contains the complete ASCA Program Co-Facilitator Training Manual. You may view it in your browser, download a copy to your computer, or print a copy for your own use.
Co-Facilitator Training Manual
Feel free to contact ASCA Support via info@ASCASupport.org or reach out to us via the Contact page.
ASCA Program - Outreach Resources
This part of the ASCA Support website is an invitation to start your own meetings for various reasons. There are lots of resources to provide all you need. Take your time investigating the information and resources available. Don't let the sheer volume of information overwhelm you. Rather, it's intended to make it easier for you without having to figure out and create all that is needed and useful.
Outreach Resources
ASCA Program - Meeting Resources
This part of the ASCA Support website gives a table of contents (toward the bottom of the page) for the resources you can download. It describes the content of each downloadable file, whether PDF or ZIP (containing more than 1 document). There is an audio example of a meeting as well as a PowerPoint Presentation on how to conduct a meeting. All of these are intended to ease your entry into co-facilitating a meeting, not overwhelm you.
Meeting Resources
ASCA Program - Ready-to-Use Meeting Scripts & Handouts
Some downloads are in PDF format and immediately available to view or print. Several of the downloadable files are in ZIP format. One ZIP file will contains several documents for meeting use and guidance. It seems like a lot, but there is some repetition so that each ZIP file has all the information required for that format. Again, take your time and review all that is available before deciding where to start.
Downloadable Meeting Scripts and Handouts
Note: To use a PDF version of a document for reading online, saving locally, or printing, you will need Adobe® Reader® which you can download here.
More to come...
All resources and materials cataloged below are specific to the ASCA Program except where noted. The links go directly to a page or resource file on www.ASCASupport.org, the only official site of the Norma J. Morris Center and the Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA) Program. All links open in a new window so you will not lose your place here.
Getting Started as a Survivor
Survivor to Thriver Manual
The Survivor to Thriver manual is an essential guidebook for ASCA Program participants, as well as for any survivor of physical, sexual and/or emotional child abuse or neglect. This 115 page manual describes the transformative journey from victim, to survivor, to thriver. It is intended to be used both in meetings and for individual work, with or without a therapist.
Survivor to Thriver Manual - Online Version
This web-based interactive format of the manual has been indexed for easier use.
Survivor to Thriver Manual - Print Version (from Lulu.com)
You can purchase a coil bound, 8.5 x 11 inch printout of the Survivor to Thriver manual with color cover for $19.99 (plus shipping) using the link above. Printing, shipping and sale is handled by Lulu.com.
Survivor to Thriver Manual - English PDF
This PDF file contains the complete Survivor to Thriver manual. It is provided for those who wish to read this format online, keep a copy on their computer, or print a copy.
Survivor to Thriver Manual - Other Versions
Use this link to go to the ASCA Support website for links to get a Spanish or Korean language PDF, or to get the Survivor to Thriver Manual for Kindle or Nook format.
Getting Help
Finding a Meeting
These lists are not exhaustive, nor are they static. We hope these and other lists will continue to grow rapidly as more and more survivors are able to find and/or start meetings. Survivors Anonymous is a specifically ASCA Program-based Private Meetup format intended to maximize safety and anonymity.
Great effort has been made by volunteers to manage and discover the contact information for available meetings, not all of which are in ASCA Program format, but may be useful. Please contact us if any of these lists need to be updated, or contact the list owner themselves.
ASCA Program Peer Support Meeting Locations
This is a list of known ASCA Program peer support meetings maintained on the ASCA Support website. It includes a couple online 'virtual' meetings, Canadian locations, and public/private Meetup groups.
National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse Recovery Groups
This is a GLOBAL effort to list every English speaking recovery group and / or service they (NAASCA) can find world-wide. They have now completed what originally seemed like a daunting project, listing ALL the English speaking Recovery Groups and Services they can find, not only in North America, but from around the world.
Finding a Therapist
This task is made easier with guidelines and therapist profiles. Probably the best therapist is one who comes with a positive recommendation from a trusted friend. Short of that, there is plenty of information that can be found via a Internet search of 'how to find a good therapist' or similar search phrase. Psychology Today maintains a very good listing and the following guideline may be helpful in your search as well. Be sure the therapist is safe and experienced in your area of abuse and/or neglect.
ASCA Program Finding a Therapist Guide - PDF Version
This is a helpful guide to assist ASCA Program members who are actively searching for a therapist by Karen Mills.
Psychology Today - Find a Therapist
This is not ASCA Support related, but it is a well-used resource by therapists to market themselves. You can search this database by location. The default country is 'US' (for me anyway) but that can easily be changed if necessary.
Starting a Peer Support Meeting Group
Overview
If you are unable to locate an ASCA Program peer support group meeting in your area, you might want to to consider starting one. The ASCA Program provides all the materials you need for the attendee and to run the meeting with predictability, consistency, and safety. It might help to think of the three P's of starting a peer support meeting group:
- People: Survivors will need a way to find out about the group.
- Place: Survivors will need a place to gather that is appropriate for peer support.
- Process: Survivors will benefit from a defined process for healing.
Independent of the ASCA Program, using Meetup (www.meetup.com) is good way to handle the People portion of a peer support group, especially a Private Meetup group that allows for anonymous membership and meeting location. The membership can be managed and communicated with through the Meetup platform. This makes it easy to announce meeting events to the members. The platform also promotes Meetup groups to those in the area with similar interests as the topics for the group.
Being a Meetup Organizer does have its costs in subscribing to that role in Meetup. At Survivors Anonymous groups, the Organizer or Co-Organizers provide that funding as a donation to the group and do not charge the membership. It only accepts free will contributions. The idea is to keep the cost structure similar to that of an AA meeting: self-sustaining through the contributions of it's members.
The place can be a challenge because there are so many variables from one location to another. Usually, ASCA Support meetings can be held at places where AA and other 12-Step or different support meetings are held. Such places might charge rent for the room, which might make it cost prohibitive. Or, it might be a matter of networking to find who has a place available to meet. Or, perhaps a public facility, such as a local library, or an eatery has a private room that can be reserved.
Process is where the ASCA Program comes in. The reading material and guidelines are very well defined for the process. Facilitating the meetings is intended to be a shared responsibility among the attendees. Ideally, there are two per meeting, neither of which is considered the meeting leader. Rather, they lead together, or co-facilitate the meeting together.
ASCA Program - Co-Facilitator Training
This PDF contains the complete ASCA Program Co-Facilitator Training Manual. You may view it in your browser, download a copy to your computer, or print a copy for your own use.
Co-Facilitator Training Manual
Feel free to contact ASCA Support via info@ASCASupport.org or reach out to us via the Contact page.
ASCA Program - Outreach Resources
This part of the ASCA Support website is an invitation to start your own meetings for various reasons. There are lots of resources to provide all you need. Take your time investigating the information and resources available. Don't let the sheer volume of information overwhelm you. Rather, it's intended to make it easier for you without having to figure out and create all that is needed and useful.
Outreach Resources
ASCA Program - Meeting Resources
This part of the ASCA Support website gives a table of contents (toward the bottom of the page) for the resources you can download. It describes the content of each downloadable file, whether PDF or ZIP (containing more than 1 document). There is an audio example of a meeting as well as a PowerPoint Presentation on how to conduct a meeting. All of these are intended to ease your entry into co-facilitating a meeting, not overwhelm you.
Meeting Resources
ASCA Program - Ready-to-Use Meeting Scripts & Handouts
Some downloads are in PDF format and immediately available to view or print. Several of the downloadable files are in ZIP format. One ZIP file will contains several documents for meeting use and guidance. It seems like a lot, but there is some repetition so that each ZIP file has all the information required for that format. Again, take your time and review all that is available before deciding where to start.
Downloadable Meeting Scripts and Handouts
Note: To use a PDF version of a document for reading online, saving locally, or printing, you will need Adobe® Reader® which you can download here.
More to come...
We are a work in progress!!
Not only are we working on ourselves, we're working on this website to add more useful information.