The BEAR Therapeutic Program for Women

The Building Empowerment and Resilience Therapeutic Program for Women With a History of Trauma

The current study aims to test a novel therapeutic intervention for women who have a history of interpersonal trauma. The Building Empowerment and Resilience (BEAR) Therapeutic group incorporates psychological skills, psychoeducation, and physical empowerment training, all within a therapeutic process. It will be implemented iwith women who have experienced interpersonal trauma (physical, sexual, or emotional abuse/neglect). The investigators aim to understand how this program effects one's self-efficacy and whether the program can reduce rates mental health problems (such as depression and anxiety) and reduce the rates of revictimization. Women who participate in the BEAR group must be able to attend in-person sessions. The control group can be remote.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Women ages 18-70
2. History of physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse/neglect/violence, with subsequent interpersonal or psychological distress (e.g., depression or anxiety) related to this history.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active, significant substance abuse
2. Significant medical conditions that would preclude safe participation in the study
3. High levels of depression with significant suicide risk
4. Psychiatric instability
5. History of assaultive behavior or is judged to be at potential risk to assault others.