Survivor Support
Awake is a survivor-centered organization, and we would be honored to accompany you on your healing journey. However, Awake is not staffed by mental health professionals, and we are not able to provide crisis support. If you need immediate assistance, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Awake Survivor Circles
We warmly invite you to connect with fellow abuse survivors for community and support through one of Awake’s virtual Survivor Circles.
These circles welcome adults who have experienced sexual abuse by a person in leadership in the Catholic Church, whether that abuse happened during childhood or during their adult years, and you can participate from anywhere in the world. Our groups allow survivors to connect with one another in the context of safe, structured, consistent online gatherings. These circles are designed to be welcoming for Catholics, non-Catholics, and every grey area in between, with each circle having a unique approach and tone. Each circle is co-led by an Awake staff member and a volunteer who is a survivor of abuse.
Gatherings follow a simple structure:
Welcome and centering
An introductory question to help participants get to know one another (something simple like “Tell us about a favorite book or movie you’ve enjoyed.”)
Open conversation about a monthly topic (for example, “Handling Triggers” or “What Has Helped Me Heal”)
Closing comments and gratitude
Our circles meet once a month on Zoom, and group size is capped at 10 so that we can get to know one another better over time. We hold a fall session from September through December, a winter/spring session from January through May, and drop-in gatherings over the summer months. These are our current groups:
For Women Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse by a Catholic Leader as Adults
Tuesday Evenings,
6:30pm – 8:00pm Central Time
Led by Esther Harber and Megan
This circle is made up of women who were abused as adults, have chosen to remain practicing Catholics, and value honest conversation about the challenge of staying engaged with the Church.
For Men Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse by a Catholic Leader
Tuesday Evenings,
6:30pm – 8:00pm Central Time
Led by Mike Koplinka-Loehr
This circle brings together men from a variety of spiritual perspectives (including Catholics, other Christians, and people who are non-religious) who are comfortable with this diversity and appreciate occasional gentle, non-judgmental conversation of spiritual topics.
For Women Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse by a Catholic Leader
Wednesday Evenings,
6:30pm – 8:00pm Central Time
Led by Amy Pearce and Sara Larson
This circle brings together women from a variety of spiritual perspectives (including Catholics, other Christians, and people who are non-religious) who are comfortable with this diversity and appreciate occasional gentle, non-judgmental conversation of spiritual topics.
For All Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse by a Catholic Leader
Friday Afternoons,
1:00pm – 2:15pm Central Time
Led by Mike Hoffman and Sara Larson
This circle is made up of men and women who appreciate honest discussions about faith in a way that respects the complicated and painful relationship many survivors have with God and the Catholic Church.
For Women Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse by a Catholic Leader
Sunday Evenings,
6:30pm - 8:00pm Central Time
Led by Cathy Drake and Esther Harber
This circle brings together women who appreciate honest discussions about faith in a way that respects the complicated and painful relationship many survivors have with God and the Catholic Church.
The Well
Community Forum
The Well is a Awake’s new online message board for abuse survivors, a safe space to connect with one another for community and support. All who have experienced sexual abuse by Catholic leaders are warmly invited to join the conversation!
If you would like more information about signing up for a circle or joining us at The Well, please reach out to Esther Harber at estherharber@awakecommunity.org. We like to have an individual phone or Zoom call with each new participant so that we can welcome you to the community and learn how we can best serve you.
We also recommend these virtual support groups facilitated by friends of Awake:
Victim/survivor restorative justice support groups hosted by our friend Paula Kaempffer, Outreach Coordinator for Restorative Justice and Abuse Prevention for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Virtual offerings include a general group for all victim/survivors of sexual abuse, a group specifically for those sexually assaulted by clergy as adults, and a group for family and friends of victims of clergy sexual abuse. More information is available at www.archspm.org/restorative-justice-groups or by contacting Paula at kaempfferp@archspm.org.
Independent support groups facilitated by our friend Jim Richter, M.D. on Zoom. These groups include a survivor peace circle on the third Tuesday of each month and a gathering on the first Monday of each month specifically for men who have been sexually abused by clergy or religious. For details, contact Jim at 773-412-0909 or jrichter316@gmail.com.