Table 4 Impact of Narrating Memories of Sexual Assault/Abuse (i.e., Completing Imaginal Exposures) in Group
Theme | Illustrative Quotes |
|---|---|
1. Emotional release and/or transformation (n = 25) | • “It’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders” • “It made me feel free from the prison I was living inside my head” • “Sense of relief from holding it in for 17 years” • “Releasing all the pain, anger, and guilt has given me a sense of freedom I have never had. A great weight has been lifted from inside me. Thank you.” • “Released the shame holding me down.” • “I have slept better in the last month and a half that I have in twenty-five years and I have got a new peace about me and in my life.” |
2. Changed view of people and/or increased connection with others (n = 9) | • “It helped me to realize that not everyone is the same. Loosen up and learn to trust.” • “It was amazing to know that people believed me and others have understood what I went through.” • “I believe it helped me in a way sharing alone never has.” |
3. Transformed view of oneself (n = 7) | • “I had a major breakthrough. I peeled the mask off.” • “Tremendous – believe that it was my gateway to becoming a victor, instead of a victim over my abuse.” • “It made me…realize that I am a good and forgivable person….” • “An extremely positive one. I am beautiful and enough.” • “A different perspective of myself” |
4. Challenged self-blame beliefs (n = 6) | • “…made me see it wasn’t my fault.” • “It made me accept the fact it wasn’t my fault…” |
5. General positive impact (n = 6) | • “It helped me in many ways.” • “I see that the group helped me a lot.” • “A huge impact. I never thought I could look at my past the way I am able to do today.” |
6. Was hard (n = 4) | • “It felt horrible at first. But now I understand that there were emotions I didn’t know I had inside that intertwine with problem areas of my life.” • “It was hard to actually open up and share how I felt about my abuse.” • “It was hard for me but it helped by hearing three other sisters share first. It made it a lot easier for me.” |