Connection with others can make a huge difference in male survivors’ healing journey. In the past, the ability to connect with others has largely depended on the person’s location and the availability of therapists and/or groups in their area. These virtual groups remove some of those barriers, bringing peer support to anyone interested, regardless of location.

The use of the term “male” includes all cisgender and trans individuals who are masculine-identifying or self-identify as male. All sexual orientations are welcome.

Groups are facilitated by peers of the male survivor community who have received training conducted by licensed practitioners in mental health. Some of the peer leaders also received specialized training from doctors at the Yale School of Medicine – Department of Psychiatry, for a study that was conducted over the course of three years.

The peer leaders are required to attend bi-weekly supervision meetings overseen by a licensed mental health clinician from the MenHealing team. The supervision is meant to support the peer leaders as they support the group attendees.

MenHealing is committed to extending connection to include allies as well as male survivors themselves

To that end, below are three different types of peer support available to male survivors.

  • WOR Alumni Peer Support Groups
  • Community Peer Support Groups
  • Partner Peer Support Groups

You may sign up now to get on a waiting list for when the next group sessions begin.

Peer Group Wait List

WOR Alumni Peer Support Groups

Those who have attended a Weekend of Recovery (WOR) or Day of Recovery (DOR) are eligible to register for peer-led support groups. The 90-minute groups generally run via Zoom, every other week for 15 sessions.

A pre-group interview is required with MenHealing staff, prior to acceptance for the group.

The fee for the group is $350, to be paid in advance. (This equates to $25 per session, with one session free.)

When enough participants have joined the waiting list, interviews will commence and then the group can start.

Community Peer Groups

If you have not attended a WOR, you can sign up for one of our Community Peer Support Groups. To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. Self-identify as male/masculine-identifying;
  2. Have experienced unwanted sexual harm during childhood or as an adult. Sexual harm could include assault, childhood sexual abuse, rape, or any unwelcome sexual contact of any kind;
  3. Complete an interview with one of our staff prior to acceptance for the group.

One goal for the peer support groups is to decrease isolation and build connections with other survivors. They may serve as inspiration to attend a WOR. Our hope is that participants will continue to engage in healing activities and become part of a community.

These 90-minute groups will run weekly for eight weeks. Curriculum will reflect topics from our Weekends of Recovery.

The fee for the group is $175, to be paid in advance. (This equates to $25 per session, with one session free.)

When enough participants have joined the waiting list, interviews will commence and then the group can start.

Partner Peer Support Group

Thank you for your interest in the Partners Peer Support Group. We are glad you are exploring getting support for yourself. Below is more information about these groups. To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. Must be a current partner (ex. spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, or a romantic partner) to a survivor of sexual harm that self-identifies as male/masculine- identifying;
  2. Complete an interview with one of our staff prior to acceptance for the group.

One goal for the Partner Peer Support Groups is to provide you with support and understanding as someone who loves a survivor and wants to support them as you get the support you need. Our hope is that participants will continue to engage in healing activities and become part of a community.

These 90-minute groups will run for 6-8 sessions, every other week. Curriculum will include topics, such as; understanding the impact of sexual harm on the survivor and on you as the partner, the importance of taking care of yourself, love and intimacy, tools for coping with crisis, and exploring your healing process.

The fee for the group is $175, to be paid in advance. (This equates to $25 per session, with one session free.)

All participants are expected to register for the full series of 15 sessions.

When enough participants have joined the waiting list, interviews will commence and then the group can start.