Following are a variety of questions and concerns you may have about Weekend of Recovery or Day of Recovery retreats. We hope this information will be helpful to you in sorting through your decision about whether to attend an event.
FAQ About Weekend of Recovery
If you have a question that is not addressed here, you may ask in the comment section below, or use our contact form and we’ll try to help.
Any male survivor who has experienced sexual victimization during childhood, as an adult, or both. We honor and respect the spectrum of sexual and gender identities; any survivor who currently identifies as male is welcome. Respect for diversity is a foundation for our events.
Level 1 WORs have a structured agenda that is available for your review at the link provided here. You will be able to check in beginning the morning of the event. No lodging is available at the venue the night before or after the event. The WOR begins with lunch at 12 noon on Friday and ends at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The weekend agenda is comprised of a variety of large group activities, mixed with four small group sessions and time for breaks and networking with other participants. Optional activities such as mindfulness walks early Saturday and Sunday mornings and a casual outdoor hike on Saturday afternoon are available.
Advanced WORs allow an add-on option for participants to arrive at the event site on Thursday in time for dinner and overnight lodging. Other participants may choose to arrive Friday morning in time for the scheduled start time of 9 a.m. Like a Level 1 WOR, the weekend agenda is comprised of a variety of large group activities, mixed with several small group sessions. Advanced WORs end at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Participants have an add-on option to remain at the event site thru breakfast on Monday morning. Advanced WORs that focus on the theme of Intimacy and Relationship allow the additional option for their partner/spouse/significant other to register and attend.
DORs are conducted as a mini-WOR, a one-day event providing a structured agenda that highlights brief segments of a typical Level 1 WOR. This includes a variety of large group activities and shorter small group sessions. The exact time for DOR events may vary by location, but typically begin at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. On-site lunch is provided for participants. DOR events provide an opportunity for survivors who are unable to geographically access a Level 1 WOR; who have financial and/or time limitations that prevent them from attending a full weekend event; or who prefer a brief healing experience and/or who may want to check out whether a longer weekend event would be helpful.
Although we encourage active participation in WOR/DOR events, activities are structured to allow you to pace the level of your involvement. Confidentiality and safety are cornerstones for our time together. WOR/DORs are highly effective in lessening feelings of isolation and creating opportunities for engagement and community. We also include generous amounts of break time to provide opportunities for you to develop friendships with other participants.
18 years or older. Participants in prior events have ranged from ages 18 through all tiers of senior years. Each event has a different composition of ages, because diversity of life years offers opportunities for mutual learning and support.
Our Facilitator Team is comprised of a mixture of mental health practitioners and somatic body educators. WOR/DOR events are not psychotherapy. All Facilitators maintain active certification in their respective professional field. Many Facilitators have extensive years of experience working with male survivors and are nationally recognized.
We believe the diversity of male survivors who attend WOR/DORs should be reflected among our Facilitator Team. In addition, we have found it beneficial to include some female Facilitators.
Early during each event, facilitators guide participants through an exercise to identify factors that can help them to feel safe. This process allows an opportunity for you to address your unique concerns. We recognize and respect each individuals needs, while also working collaboratively to establish safety guidelines for all participants.
Each venue provides a self-contained atmosphere away from cities. We thoroughly vet each venue for an extensive list of requirements. This includes considerations of comfort and privacy. We establish a direct working relationship with the staff at each venue to maximize a successful experience for you.
Menus at each facility are planned to provide whole, healthy foods. WOR events include meals from lunch on Friday through lunch on Sunday. DOR events include lunch. All events include snack food for break times.
Each facility can accommodate all special dietary requests. Our registration process includes an opportunity for you to provide us with your dietary needs.
All sites and facilities are accessible for a wide range of physical mobility. Each venue also has the capacity to assist with a special needs in this regard. Activities at WOR/DOR allow you to participate within your individual boundaries of physical health and mobility. These concerns will be addressed during your pre-event interview.
All rooms are physically close to the locations for dining and group meetings. You will have the option to register for a single, double, or triple room occupancy. Scholarships are available upon application to provide financial assistance for triple and double room occupancy. Participants who have special medical or mobility concerns may also apply for scholarship assistance for a single occupancy room.
Each venue provides basic supplies of bedding and towels. All sites require that you bring your own clothing and basic items for personal hygiene. Bring clothing that is casual and comfortable. As part of the registration process, you will receive information about the environment and weather of the specific event you will be attending.
No. Level 1 WOR and DOR events are for individual male survivors. Family members and allies may accompany you to the event location, but we expect them only to drop you off and pick you up. They will need to secure lodging off-site. If you have a male friend or family member who is also a male survivor, it may be appropriate for them to attend the same event as you, so long as they go through the same application process and are also fully participating for themselves.
We hold some Advanced WORs that allow the inclusion of a partner/spouse of any gender identity.
It’s best not to assess victimization by any kind of heirarchy or continuum of severity. Each individual survivor deserves to have an opportunity to heal. WOR and DOR events are structured to support a healing process for any male survivor of sexual victimization, no matter what their uniqe situation may be.
While WOR/DOR retreats provide an opportunity for healing, they do not constitute psychotherapy nor are they a replacement for other mental health services.
We understand that male survivors have a wide range of access to healing resources. Some survivors have engaged in a variety of opportunities for healing before attending a WOR or DOR. Others may have been unable to access any services so attending a WOR or DOR may be their first experience of a healing resource. Some experience of healing (therapy, 12-step activities, support group, on-line networking, etc.) is beneficial before attending a WOR/DOR event; however, it is not a requirement.
A pre-event Interview with a member of the Facilitator Team will help evaluate whether the event is appropriate for your needs, timing, and present circumstance.
Respect for diversity is a foundation for our events. We seek to include male survivors of any age (18+), racial identity, ethnic heritage, religious or spiritual affiliation, ideological belief, sexual or gender uniqueness, class or economic status, educational level, employment, or physical abilities. If your situation is not included in this list, we welcome your input to help us find ways to address your concerns.
We want WOR/DOR events to be accessible to any male survivor, no matter what their financial resources are. If your situation makes it difficult to attend, we can provide financial assistance up to 80% of the cost of a double or triple room (or single room if you have special needs).
We welcome charitable donations that help us to sustain the operation of our organization and to maintain a robust Scholarship Fund. We have many examples of male survivors who needed our financial support to attend a WOR or DOR but later were able to offer a financial gift from themselves or a friend, family member, co-worker, or business entity.
For more ideas please visit this page: How to Pay for a Weekend/Day of Recovery?
We are unable to provide financial assistance for travel.
We schedule events at venues that are within 2-hours of a major airport. Many of the venues have some form of shuttle or transportation aid. Once you have been accepted for the WOR or DOR, you will have access to a MenHealing Transportation Forum where you can discuss ride-sharing opportunities with other participants.
Small groups meet four times during each Level 1 WOR. One of those sessions provides an opportunity for you to briefly share your story. This segment of the agenda occurs mid-way through the weekend, after you have had ample time to become acquainted with other participants and the Facilitators. You alone will decide what to share or not share. This process is facilitated with careful attention to your individual safety needs.
Although you are able to disclose aspects of your history during DORs and Advanced WORs, those events do not include the specific component of a structured process for sharing your narrative.
Confidentiality is a cornerstone of each WOR/DOR. The Facilitator Team is committed to protecting your confidentiality. Safety guidelines are co-created during each WOR/DOR event to support your needs for privacy. Establishing and honoring boundaries is an essential component of a healthy healing environment.