For those who consider joining our groups, you can have certain expectations:

1. Treatment goals. "You are here to grow and learn not to let being sexually abused stop you from being the best person you can be. Based on the initial evaluation, we have treatment goals and a treatment plan so that you will be sure to gain from group."

2. Talking about and preventing sexual abuse. We will help you learn why people sexually abuse others and answer any questions you have about it. This is a safe place to be able to talk about this as all the children/teens in the group have had sexual abuse happen to them. We will learn ways to avoid high risk situations and watch out for signals (red flags) to help prevent any one from sexually abusing you again. We will practice what to do in situations if this should begin to happen to you or another children again.

3. Desensitization to the trauma. We'll talk about the sexual abuse in order for you to see that others in the group have experienced similar sexual abuse, feelings, and family troubles as a result. Facing the abuse and sharing the details will also help make the whole experience less scary and prepare you to deal with it and put it behind you.

3. Dealing with Problems. All people have problems. Therapy is a place to learn how to deal with problems even if not related to the sexual abuse. Group is a good place to learn how to get along with others and how our behavior affects other people. We might learn things like how to:

• handle our anger,
• get along with teachers,
• be a super student,
• solve problems with our parents or brothers and sisters.

4. We will learn things and try to have some fun at the same time. With the purpose of learning important ways to handle our problems we may do · interesting activities,

• practice skills we may need in real-life,
• artwork,
• play games,
• act out going to court and telling your story to the judge.
• you may add topics or problems you want to discuss to the agenda.

5. Group Rules for Safety. There are rules in the group to help make it safe for everyone and not let anything interfere with our treatment goals.

a. BE ON TIME.

b. KEEP CONFIDENTIALITY. It means what is talked about who said what about whom is not told to others outside the group. You can talk about activities and general topics discussed, but not about personal details either about the other teens or therapists. There are exceptions ... if any one may get hurt (e.g. a child is or has been abused, a person might threaten to hurt someone or themselves). If that happens we will tell you that together you and we have to tell someone who can prevent that from happening and we will do it together."

c. RESPECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS. "We also will all make up rules to not let people hurt each other in here"