The Survivors’ Circle: Support Groups for Student Survivor-Victims of Sexual Harm

Sexual harassment can have lasting effects on individuals’ emotional, psychological, physical, and financial well-being. Yet, finding the right support is often challenging. That is why we created the Survivors’ Circle: a weekly support group for student survivor-victims of sexual harm. This group is open to anyone who identifies as a woman.

The Survivors’ Circle is led by queer affirmative and trauma trained therapists. It is a confidential space for people who have similar challenges to share. The group aims to believe stories of survivor-victims, create a community of healing, and equip participants with tools to navigate their recovery.

The objectives of this support group are to provide support, empower and foster a sense of community among the participants. The group will have a combination of education and advocacy of rights.

This is an 8- week long support group - with one session every week. The group will have 10-12 participants per session and we aim to provide a confidential space for all.

About the Facilitators:

Naina is a counselling psychologist based in Mumbai, India, holding a Master’s Degree in Applied Psychology with specialisation in Counselling Psychology from Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Her approach to therapy is rights-based, feminist, LGBTQ+ affirmative, and trauma informed. She has been practicing in the mental health field for more than 6 years, believing that mental healthcare is a right that everyone deserves.

Ahla is a counselling psychologist based in Mumbai, India. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Psychology with a specialisation in Clinical Psychology from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai.

Her therapeutic approach is firmly rooted in social justice and intersectional feminism. With a career spanning 6 years in the mental health field, Ahla currently runs her private practice in Mumbai.

About The Centre for Restoration:

TCR is a dedicated non-profit organisation employing restorative justice principles and practices to address sexual violence within India’s student communities. It was founded in 2021 by 2 former ICC student representatives, Priyanka Mehta and Yukti Saumya.

Our steadfast mission is to cultivate empathetic student communities across the nation, ensuring that trauma-informed, representative, and affordable social support is readily accessible in the face of sexual misconduct. At TCR, we understand that cases of sexual misconduct are fundamentally cases of trauma. Therefore, our focus lies on prioritising trauma mitigation, recovery, safety, and empowerment for individuals and communities alike. Our multifaceted projects span four essential categories: wellness, justice, truth seeking, and non-recurrence.

Our work goes beyond addressing the immediate aftermath of sexual violence; we aspire to create lasting change by empowering individuals and communities to heal, seek justice, and prevent future harm.