A voice for traumatized women: inclusion and mutual support

Frederick L Fearday1, Anita L Cape

  • 1University of South Florida, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. fredfearday@boleycenters.org

This paper reports experiences related to including women in recovery and peer support, in a project that developed integrated services for women with co-occurring mental health and substance use disabilities who have also survived violence. We describe strategies to include women in recovery and a unique peer-run group, which integrates trauma, mental health, and substance abuse recovery. Both research and perspectives of women in recovery are used to discuss the emerging themes of mutuality, bonding, and a focus on strengths.

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