Across the world, women experience significant rates of sexual assault and there is a need to strengthen support services offered to survivors. Group therapy could provide an important addition to services that support healing and growth; however, the effectiveness of group therapy interventions with survivors of adult sexual assault is not well understood and clearer insights into designing and running group therapy interventions require further exploration. This review synthesizes literature exploring group therapy for survivors of adult sexual assault to inform future interventions and research implementing group therapy. A systematic approach was used to gather literature describing and evaluating group therapy interventions with survivors of adult sexual assault. Of the initial 466 articles identified through a comprehensive search strategy including database and hand searches, 32 met the inclusion criteria by describing a group therapy intervention conducted with survivors of adult sexual assault. A thematic approach to analysis was conducted to synthesize and collate the literature. Findings explore potentially useful strategies and characteristics of group therapy with survivors of adult sexual assault and make recommendations for the design and evaluation of future interventions. Group therapy has potential as a valuable support service provided to survivors but further rigorous research and evaluations are required to better capture outcomes and understand how to design and implement effective interventions.
AllonM. (2015). EMDR group therapy with women who were sexually assaulted in the Congo. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 9(1), 28–34.
2.
Australian Human Rights Commission. (2017). Change the course: national report on sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian Universities. Sydney: Australian Human Rights Commission.
BarreraT. L.MottJ. M.HofsteinR. F.TengE. J. (2013). A meta-analytic review of exposure in group cognitive behavioral therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(1), 24–32.
5.
BassJ. K.AnnanJ.MurrayS. M.KaysenD.GriffithsS.CetinogluT.WachterK.MurrayL. K.BoltonP. A. (2013). Controlled trial of psychotherapy for Congolese survivors of sexual violence. The New England Journal of Medicine, 368(23), 2182–2191.
6.
BhuptaniP. H.Messman-MooreT. L. (2019). Blame and shame in sexual assault. In O’DonohueW.ScheweP. (Eds.), Handbook of sexual assault and sexual assault prevention. Springer.
7.
BicanicI.de RoosC.van WeselF.SinnemaG.van de PutteE. (2014). Rape-related symptoms in adolescents: Short- and long-term outcome after cognitive behavior group therapy. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 5(1), 22969–22977.
8.
BorumandniaN.KjadembashiN.TabatabaeiM.Alavi MajdH. (2020). The prevalence rate of sexual violence worldwide: A trend analysis. BMC Public Health, 20, 1835.
9.
BrabenderV.FallonA. E.SmolarA. I.FallonA. (2004). Essentials of group therapy. Wiley.
10.
CampbellR.DworkinE.CabralG. (2009). An ecological model of the impact of sexual assault on women’s mental health. Trauma Violence Abuse, 10(3), 225–246.
11.
CantorD.FisherB. S.ChibnallS.HarpsS.TownsendR.ThomasG.LeeH.KranzV.HerbisonR.MaddenK. (2020). Report of the AAU campus climate survey on sexual assault and misconduct. The Association of American Universities and Westat.
12.
CareyL. A. (1997). Effects of group treatment on rape victims[Doctoral dissertation]. New York University.
13.
CareyL. A. (1999). Illuminating the process of a rape survivors’ support group. Social Work With Groups, 21(1-2), 103–116.
14.
Chivers-WilsonK. A. (2006). Sexual assault and posttraumatic stress disorder: A review of the biological, psychological and sociological factors and treatments. McGill Journal of Medicine, 9(2), 111–118.
15.
ChoiE.ParkN.LutzeF. E.NeuillyM. A. (2018). How do victims of sexual violence benefit from mutual disclosure? An exploratory study of women in South Korea. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518789145
16.
CliffordG.Meiser-StedmanR.JohnsonR. D.HitchcockC.DalgleishT. (2018). Developing an emotion- and memory-processing group intervention for PTSD with complex features: A group case series with survivors of repeated interpersonal trauma. European Journal Psychotraumatology, 9(1), 1495980.
17.
CryerL.BeutlerL. (1980). Group therapy: An alternative treatment approach for rape victims. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 6(1), 40–46.
18.
DePrinceA. P.GagnonK. L. (2018). Understanding the consequences of sexual assault: What does it mean for prevention to be trauma-informed? In OrchowskiL. M.GidyczC. A. (Eds.), Sexual assault risk reduction and resistance: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 15–35). Academic Press.
19.
DriscollL. E. (2016). Reclaiming relationships: An integrative psychotherapy group for adolescents who have experienced sexual violence[Doctoral dissertation]. James Williams College.
20.
EllisonD., M. (2014). Incorporating self-defence training with feminist group therapy to facilitate trauma resolution in adult female survivors of sexual abuse[Doctoral dissertation]. Mississippi College.
21.
FedinaL.HolmesJ. L.BackesB. L. (2016). Campus sexual assault: A systematic review of prevalence research from 2000 to 2015. Trauma Violence Abuse, 19(1), 76–93.
22.
FernandesP.Yvette AielloY. (2018). Breaking the silence through MANTRA: Empowering Tamil man survivors of torture and rape. Torture, 28(3), 14–29.
23.
FilebornB. (2012). Sexual violence and gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex, and queer communities. Australian Institute for Family Studies.
24.
FrazierP. A. (2003). Perceived control and distress following sexual assault: A longitudinal test of a new model. Journal Personality and Social Psychology, 84(6), 1257–1269.
25.
GalleseL. E.TreutingE. G. (1981). Help for rape victims through group therapy. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 19(8), 20–21.
26.
HahnC. K.HahnA. M.GasterS.QuevillonR. (2018). Predictors of college students’ likelihood to report hyperthetical rape: Rape myth acceptance, perceived barriers to reporting and self-efficacy. Ethics & Behaviour, 30(1), 45–62.
27.
HeardE.FitzgeraldL.WiggintonB.MutchA. (2020) Applying intersectionality theory in health promotion research and practice. Health Promotion International, 35(4): 866–876, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daz080
28.
KarlssonM. E. (2015). Evaluating a brief sexual violence therapy group for incarcerated women[Doctoral dissertation]. University of Arkansas.
29.
KarlssonM. E.BridgesA. J.BellJ.PetreticP. (2014). Sexual violence therapy group in a women’s correctional facility: A preliminary evaluation. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 27, 361–364.
30.
KrnjackiL.EmersonE.LlewellynG.KavanaghA. M. (2016). Prevalence and risk of violence against people with and without disabilities: Findings from an Australian population-based study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 40(1), 16–21.
31.
LeskelaJ.DieperinkM.KokC. J. (2001). Group treatment with sexually assaulted male veterans: A year in review. Group, 25(4), 303–319.
32.
LevacD.ColquhounH.O’BrienK. K. (2010). Scoping studies: Advancing the methodology. Implementation Science, 5(1), 69–69.
33.
LiberatiA.AltmanD. G.TetzlaffJ.MulrowC.GøtzscheP. C.IoannidisJ. P. A.ClarkeM.DevereauxP. J.KleijnenJ.MoherD. (2009). The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate healthcare interventions: Explanation and elaboration. British Medical Journal, 339, b2700–b2700.
34.
LongoJ. M. (1992). Group therapy for rape victims: A descriptive analysis[Doctoral dissertation]. University of Virginia.
35.
LunaE. C. (2016). Loving-kindness and compassion: Group psychotherapy for survivors of campus sexual assault[Doctoral dissertation]. Alliant International University.
36.
MacyR. J.GiattinaM.SangsterT. H.CrosbyC.MontijoN. J. (2009). Domestic violence and sexual assault services: Inside the black box. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 14(5), 359–373.
37.
MacyR. J.JohnsN.RizoC. F.MartinS. L.GiattinaM. (2011). Domestic violence and sexual assault service goal priorities. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26(16), 3361–3382.
38.
MacyR. J.MartinS. L.Nwabuzor OgbonnayaI.RizoC. F. (2018). What do domestic violence and sexual assault service providers need to know about survivors to deliver services?Violence Against Women, 24(1), 28–44.
39.
MacyR. J.RizoC. F.JohnsN. B.ErmentroutD. M. (2013). Directors’ opinions about domestic violence and sexual assault service strategies that help survivors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 28(5), 1040–1066.
40.
McCauleyH. L.CaslerA. W. (2015). College sexual assault: A call for trauma-informed prevention. Journal of Adolescent Health, 56(6), 584–585.
41.
MenonB.StoklosaH.Van DommelenK.AwerbuchA.CaddellL.RobertsK.PotterJ. (2020). Informing human trafficking clinical care through two systematic reviews on sexual assault and intimate partner violence. Trauma Violence Abuse, 21(5), 932–945.
42.
MoylanC. A.JavorkaM. (2020). Widening the lens: An ecological review of campus sexual assault. Trauma Violence Abuse, 21(1), 179–192.
43.
MulkeyM. (2004). Recreating masculinity: Drama therapy with male survivors of sexual assault. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 31(1), 19–28.
44.
MurrayC. E.Moore SpencerK.SticklJ.CroweA. (2017). See the triumph healing arts workshops for survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 12(2), 192–202.
NewcombeP. A.Van Den EyndeJ.HafnerD.JollyL. (2008). Attributions of responsibility for rape: Differences across familiarity of situation, gender and acceptance of rape myths. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 38(7), 1736–1754.
47.
PerlM.WestinA. B.PetersonL. G. (1985). The female rape survivor: Time-limited group therapy with female–male co-therapists. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 4(3), 197–205.
RegehrC.AlaggiaR.DennisJ.PittsA.SainiM. (2013). Interventions to reduce distress in adult victims of sexual violence: A systematic review. Research on Social Work Practice, 23(3), 257–265.
50.
ResickP. A.JordanC. G.GirelliS. A.Kotsis HutterC.Marhoefer-DvorakS. (1988). A comparative outcome study of behavioral group therapy for sexual assault victims. Behavior Therapy, 19(3), 385–401.
51.
ResickP. A.SchnickeM. (1993). Cognitive processing therapy for rape victims: A treatment guide. SAGE Publications.
52.
RossG.O’CarrollP. (2004). Cognitive behavioural psychotherapy intervention in childhood sexual abuse: Identifying new directions from the literature. Child Abuse Review, 13(1), 51–64.
53.
RothS.DyeE.LebowitzL. (1988). Group therapy for sexual-assault victims. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 25(1), 82–93.
54.
RothmanE. F.ExnerD.BaughmanA. L. (2011). The prevalence of sexual assault against people who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual in the United States: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 12(2), 55–66.
55.
SchwartzeD.BarkowskiS.StraussB.KnaevelsrudC.RosendahlJ. (2019). Efficacy of group therapy psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychotherapy Research, 29(4), 415–431.
56.
SpreiJ.GoodwinR. A. (1983). Group treatment of sexual assault survivors. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 8(1), 39–46.
57.
UllmanS. E.RelyeaM.Peter-HageneL.VasquezA. L. (2013). Trauma histories, substance use coping, PTSD, and problem substance use among sexual assault victims. Addictive Behaviors, 6, 2219–2223.
58.
VanDeusenK. M.CarrJ. L. (2003). Recovery from sexual assault: An innovative two-stage group therapy model. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 53(2), 201–223.
59.
VanDeusenK. M.CarrJ. L. (2005). Group work at the university: A psychoeducational sexual assault group for women. Social Work with Groups, 27(4), 51–63.
60.
VolkerC. A. (1997). Treatment of Sexual Assault Survivors Utilizing Cognitive Therapy and Art Therapy. California Institute of Integral Studies.
61.
VolkerC. A. (1999). Treatment of sexual assault survivors utilizing cognitive therapy and art therapy[Doctoral dissertation]. The California Institute of Integral Studies.
62.
WallsN. R. (1985). Assessment of rape survivors’ adaptation to assault and a comparison of two types of group therapy for rape survivors[Doctoral dissertation]. Memphis State University.
63.
World Health Organization. (2021). Violence against women prevalence estimates, 2018: Global, regional and national prevalence estimates for intimate partner violence against women and global and regional prevalence estimates for non-partner sexual violence against women. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240022256.
64.
XenariosS. (1988). Sounds of practice: Group work with rape survivors. Social Work with Groups, 11(3), 95–100.
65.
YalomI. D.LeszczM. (2005). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (5th ed.). Basic Books.
66.
YassenJ.GlassL. (1984). Sexual assault survivors groups: A feminist practice perspective. Social Work, 29(3), 252–257.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
