Thanks to the generosity of the Madison Rotary Foundation, 100 Men of Dane County (you can watch our application video here) and many individual donors, we’re thrilled to announce the return of group therapy to our Oasis Program. This April we launched our first group for adult survivors of child sexual abuse.
Adult Survivor Group Therapy offers a safe and supportive environment for individuals to work through the trauma they experienced as children. Participants vary in age from mid-20s to 50+, and for some - this is the first time they have talked about what happened to them. Therapists guide each session and address topics such as resilience, emotional regulation, self-care and building healthy relationships. Group therapy also fosters connection and allows participants to talk about their experiences and find strength in their shared journey.
Beyond group therapy, we have been able to partner with community-based experts like Gretchen Crabb who generously offered to provide specialized training on creating sensory-friendly therapy spaces. Gretchen spent the morning in our “Jungle” therapy room, designed to accommodate high sensory needs children and youth who come to Canopy Center for sexual abuse treatment, and spoke to our therapists about how each of the eight senses relates to trauma, demonstrating how to use our existing equipment to relate to the senses and experiences of each child.
At Canopy Center, we are constantly working toward making sure that our therapy environments are as inclusive and comfortable as possible, for all clients, including those with unique sensory needs.
After devastating cuts to federal funding for victim services last year, it is truly the power of community (you!) that allows us to continue this work and provide opportunities to heal for all children and survivors of abuse.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to launch a new art therapy group for pre-teens and teens. This program will offer young participants a creative outlet to explore their emotions and develop positive coping skills. Art therapy has proven to be a powerful tool for self-expression, especially for youth who may struggle to communicate their feelings through words alone.
Together, we’re making it possible to bring life-changing programs to those who need them most. Thank you for believing in this mission and for being a part of the solution.
When Gretchen visited she recommended that we add a few items to our space, like this Crawl and Calm Resistance Tunnel; donate today to keep the momentum going.
