​Course Syllabus 

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Course

Shelter from the Storm© Hope for Survivors of Sexual Abuse

 

Course Semester

Spring 2026

Orientation: Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 7-9pmCST

Group meetings are held weekly on Tuesdays for fifteen weeks in duration.  

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All participants are required to sign support group guidelines to focus on creating a safe, confidential, and respectful space where members can share experiences without judgment, emphasizing active listening, "I" statements, no unsolicited advice, and respecting personal boundaries. 

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Location

ZOOM Video Conferencing

 

We use video for two reasons:

​1) We want you to be able to connect with other participants who understand and care about you.  The video allows you to see other participants and makes our meetings more like face-to-face meetings.

 

2) Sometimes slides may be used to help focus the meeting process and present helpful information.  

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Required Textbook

Shelter from the Storm© Workbook. Click here to purchase at Amazon.com.

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Group Fees

$300.00 per client, per semester. Per the curriculum, participants are required to repeat the curriculum for three semesters (a year and a half) to address the layers of effects from sexual violence. 

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Participants needing financial assistance can apply for our Sponsor A Survivor Scholarship Program during online registration. This scholarship will provide a partial scholarship in the amount of $150.00. Our donors will cover $150.00 of the semester fee and clients will be responsible for the remaining balance of $150.00.

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Group Size

Limited seating. The maximum number of participants per group is eight in order to allow the highest participation of all members. We support females only—ages 18 and up.

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Course Requirement

Counseling is crucial for trauma survivors, and it is an important step to help process the wounded emotions from the sexual abuse experience.  Many mental health professionals consider support groups to be one of the most important resources in recovery from the effects of sexual abuse. 

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Sexual abuse is the most personal and damaging form of betrayal. Recovery from the effects of sexual abuse is the most intense and emotionally challenging form of recovery. Survivors of sexual abuse often struggle with powerful issues such as shame, thoughts of suicide, addictions and even dissociation. 

 

For participation in our recovery groups, you are required to establish a relationship with a counseling professional (preferably one who is trained in sexual trauma).  Subsequently, continue to maintain a relationship with a mental health professional as you participate in the support group. The recovery groups should complement individual therapy not replace it.

 

 

 

Group Facilitators

There is a difference between therapy groups and support groups. Counseling or therapy is a specific type of mental health treatment facilitated by trained and licensed mental health providers.

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Our support groups are led by experienced and trained facilitators to facilitate a group of peers to share their experiences, process their feelings, practice new skills, and support one another in a safe and collaborative environment.

 

Our recovery groups provide a safe environment to process the ways in which the history of sexual violence impacts our life today with others who have had similar experiences.

 

Participants will be informed about the truth of their experience, embraced where they are on the journey and encouraged in their process of recovery.

 

NOTE: A pre-group interview is required for participation.

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Course Overview

Shelter from the Storm© are Christ-centered recovery groups (not therapy groups) designed to heal the emotional wound related to the experience of sexual abuse. Groups are held semi-annually in the Spring and Fall semesters.

 

The twelve-week curriculum written by Cynthia Kubetin-Littlefield, James Mallory, M.D. and Jacqualine C. Truitt is a clear step by step process for trauma survivors to overcome the pervasive destruction that has happened to them. 

 

Many individuals have survived the traumatic experience of sexual abuse. Most often the abuse occurred at the hands of someone in a trusted position and known to the survivor. Sadly, the devastating effects will continue throughout every stage of the survivor’s life until it is appropriately addressed and dealt with.

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​From a spiritual perspective, sexual abuse is not the plan or will of God, nor does He condone it in any form. It is betrayal by people. God is the Creator of our sexuality, the human anatomy and the sex drive. His plan is for sexual intimacy to be expressed in marriage between one man and one woman, whereby love, respect, and commitment defines the relationship.

 

Sexual abuse is a criminal, willful and selfish act committed against another person which brings destruction and devastation in the victim’s life. The victim’s perception of themselves, others, God and life in general is severely distorted. However, God desires to heal the emotional wounds related to the abuse so you may experience life with meaning and purpose as He intended. Healing, freedom and truth is available through His Son, Jesus Christ. Don’t suffer in silence any longer. Help and resources are available.

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Course Description

Shelter from the Storm© support groups are designed for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse who desire is to experience deliverance and wholeness in spirit, soul & body. It will empower participants to realize that they are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ rather than victims of their past.

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Course Objectives

People injure us when they choose to abuse us. We were created to live in the wholeness of body and soul. Sexual abuse severely damages that ability. You will learn how to seek the help and support you need and identify and deal with the emotional pain and the aftereffects of sexual abuse.

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Survivors of sexual abuse will come to realize there is hope and healing from the effects of the past as they examine the:

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• false beliefs about the abuse and themselves

• overwhelming effects of abuse on their life

• process of grieving the pain of sexual abuse and of learning to let go of the past

• process of reclaiming trust, control, and intimacy

• road to recovery through the Word of God

• healing path with God's help, from victim to survivor to an overcomer through Jesus Christ

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​Course Benefits

 1. offer caring support and encouragement

 2. offer unconditional love and support

 3. offer a safe and trusted place for wounded people to tell the truth

 4. offer an environment to express feelings openly

 5. offer freedom to identify options and make decisions

 6. ​offer a safe place to take the time needed to recover

 7. offer an opportunity to expose hurtful experiences and unmet needs without               being misunderstood or criticized 

 8. offer a place to experience accountability to yourself and others

 9. offer an experience of the mercy and wisdom of God and the healing power of           prayer

10. offer hope and healing

11. offer community to those who have felt alone in their grief and pain

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