History

In September, 2001, the weekend before September 11, a group of committed clinicians facilitated the first Male Survivor weekend of recovery with nine brave men at a retreat center in the middle of a cornfield in Illinois. The Weekends of Recovery evolved and grew to be formidable and powerful templates for men to create avenues of healing not available in traditional therapeutic venues.  But over years, after 65 Weekends of Recovery for male survivors, we were haunted by the fact that women survivors needed to receive more support than traditional therapy, rape recovery centers or crisis intervention. We recognized that women typically spend less on themselves or engage far fewer resources when it comes to self care. They spend their money on their children or their families before they commit to their own recovery needs. For survivors of sexual trauma, toxic relationships, addictions, our self worth can take similar but different incarnations than with men: loyalties to toxic relationships, with alcohol, prescription drugs, or food—often with difficult, painful sexual and social consequences.  We recognized that there are many ways to define gender and gender identity that took a specific and important sensitivity for survivors of sexual abuse.

In 2014, Taking Back Ourselves was initially instituted for women survivors of sexual abuse and assault, under the umbrella of the MaleSurvivor Organization. We reached out and in June of that year, at the Hope Springs Institute, an unlikely place of refuge in the middle of rural Ohio, women survivors of sexual abuse participated in the first Taking Back Ourselves Weekend of Recovery for women survivors of sexual abuse, survivors of incest, sexual assault, domestic violence, religious abuse, military sexual assault, survivors of academic and sports related abuse, those assaulted in the performing arts, survivors of war crimes, tribal and racial violence and trans individuals who often do not have a safe space to heal. Since then, survivors have come from all over the US and 4 continents—to heal and to create community. They had traveled a long way to be there, some at considerable cost—a few at great risk. 

Since 2014, in Ohio, Utah, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and California, TBO has given survivors of all genders an incredible space to experience being truly empowered and whole. We continue to be committed to providing this extraordinary opportunity and an affordable and beautiful space for survivors, no matter where they are from, to create a strong community of recovery. 

TBO has not only provided experiential in-person and Virtual Weekends of Recovery, but also Events of Healing, public events offered across the country, and a wealth of website resources for survivors of all genders and many needs.

At TBO, survivors leave their isolation behind and create real safety. They make real connections with one another and with the six extremely seasoned facilitators. They can tell their stories and be believed. They experiment with being vulnerable, connected to the children inside of themselves, and make room for possibility and curiosity. They explore their creativity with incredible art and movement. Together they create community, hope, joy—and more life. Many keep their connections with one another in creating community to one another and within themselves, in the power they touch within through a monthly art group, peer support and our Rise Up Community a support group for alumni who are survivors of color. 

Since 2016, Taking Back Ourselves has operated as an independent nonprofit in Ohio, New York, Maine, Connecticut, and California. We are dedicated to serving survivors from every background and also collaborate with MenHealing, our brother organization, to provide outreach and all gender Advanced Weekends for alumni of our Level I Weekends of Recovery. 

The Weekends of Recovery offer something unprecedented in traditional recovery support. 

The ratio of specialty therapists to participants in small groups is a powerful adjunct to recovery. Each member of the TBO team brings decades of experience, compassion, and skill to the work with trauma survivors, utilizing mindfulness, bodywork, brain gym, authentic movement, qi gong, art, music, dance, and group process to create safety, solid support, space to be authentic and… room for joy. 

TBO makes every effort to make these weekends affordable without compromising the ratio of staff or the exquisite environments that support the work. The funds raised are spent on the provision of service and small stipends and modest travel expenses for the facilitators. But mostly our funds center on safe and nourishing venues and tuition scholarships for participants. TBO provides the space, and the safety to create a vibrant and strong community of recovery.

Until the onset of the pandemic, TBO created powerful in person Nights of Healing for the public in Boston, New York, Salt Lake City, and Ohio. They have provided a space for survivors and those who support them to join together to lift the veil of secrecy and shame of sexual trauma. This year TBO will again open its doors to the public and offer these extraordinary public spaces again. By bringing the issue of sexual abuse and assault out from the shadows, they will bring their personal stories with a panel to speak about the gifts and challenges of recovery, a survivor art exhibit, information and resources in the community. This is an opportunity for all survivors to ask questions, and to find incredible support. Events of Healing like these create an opening for increased awareness and to recognize that healing is truly possible.

This is the story of TBO.  Join us.