I attended my first WOR within the first 6mos. of beginning therapy. My therapist advised me against it. I wasn't sure I could survive a room mate, so asked for a private. But, I believed in the people here who recommended it...so attended it anyway.
When I arrived...I immediately went into "numb" mode. I thought what the hell am I doing? Then I was told that there were no private rooms available. I wanted to run..just leave. However, stuck it out. Friday I was numb...that night one of the room mates asked if he needed to be afraid. I didn't answer and turned toward the wall. Saturday I was numb...still wanted to run. I stuck it out.
The most interesting part to me was that I was hearing approximately the same stories...seeing the people, hearing their voices. This made it real for me. I finally realized and understood what it felt like to be like other people...not alone. All of a sudden I began to feel like a real person. I ended the weekend on a real high. This whole experience catapulted me into real recovery. I highly recommend the weekend. To get "unstuck" from what we have believed for so long...we sometimes need to push ourselves beyond our safety net...sometimes we need to just take the leap. The therapists are educated/trained and experienced in sexual abuse. They have heard these stories before. They watch and listen carefully...they know what to look for. They know what they are doing, as opposed to just finding any therapists near us because they have a degree. We need more of these specialized therapist. And at the WOR you get the best.
Greg