BEAR for Women Who Have Experienced Sexual Assault and Have Suicidal Thoughts

The study seeks cisgender women who have experienced sexual assault, broadly defined, and who also have suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The Building Empowerment and Resilience (BEAR) intervention is a 12-week manualized group therapy program developed for women who have experienced interpersonal violence. The group meets for 12 weeks, 1.5 hours each week. Participants must attend in-person, and it will only be conducted in Palo Alto, CA. All participants will receive the BEAR program. The BEAR program integrates three components: 1) psychoeducation, 2) psychological skills, and 3) physical self-defense training. The psychoeducation component of the class covers topics such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, understanding stress response reactions in trauma, and shame and guilt. Social and cultural expectations are also discussed and linked to interpersonal violence. The second component of the program advances a variety of skills that are important in all facets of the women's lives. These include skills such as assertiveness training, which is how to effectively stand up for one's rights; communication skills, which is how to communicate effectively through both verbal and nonverbal (body) language; and coping skills, which is how to managing stress and suicidal thoughts. Physical self-defense skills are the final component of the program. An aim of the physical empowerment is to help the women embody their physical strength and voice. This physical aspect includes learning to use various levels of their voice; physical resistance moves that offer maximal opportunity for impact on an aggressor while minimizing harm to the women; specific hand/leg techniques (e.g., punching, kicking); where to target if they were attacked (e.g., nose); and training in "escape" skills that address breaking out of holds that are used by potential perpetrators (e.g., wrist grab or bear hug). Intended group sizes will be 8-10 women per group, ages 18-75. A screening interview will be conducted to ensure eligibility. Assessments will be completed at baseline, six weeks into the group, post-group, and three- and twelve- months follow up. At each assessment point, a series of questionnaires will be completed. Additionally, after completion of the group and at the 12-month follow-up, a qualitative interview about their experience of the intervention will be conducted.