Is getting help worth it?

Support Groups

& Rise has provided a supportive environment where I can share my experiences of sexual violence without fear of judgment, humiliation, or stigma. Through the Sexual Abuse Survivors group, I have not only been able to articulate my story but also form meaningful connections with fellow survivors, significantly aiding my healing process. One poignant moment was when I expressed feelings of worthlessness; a fellow survivor reminded me of my resilience and strength, reinforcing the bonds we share in this journey toward healing. - Anonymous

“I love this organization! Our group meets online and it's been really cathartic for me. I love to hear from the other ladies. It helps you not feel so alone. Although our traumas are not the same, our connections and empathy for each other are. Thanks for giving me the space to share my story. Thank to Jennifer Solarte for starting such a wonderful organization. Don't take my word for it, try it for yourself.”

-Shantell M. (Georgia)

“Because domestic and sexual abusers isolate their victims, finding support outside the toxic environment is crucial for escaping and healing from physical and psychological trauma. Finding &Rise was very important to me. &Rise safe space allowed me to discuss and share my experience and to understand that I am not alone anymore in my struggle. Jennifer and her “support circle” help me to find the strength and the belief that I can have a fulfilling life after a 23 year abusive relationship.”

- Carmen C.

I been coming to &Rise for a good couple of months, afraid of my past and embarrassed. When I attended the group, it was a life changing for me. I was not alone in this journey, and I shouldn't feel ashamed of what happened to me. I am learning how to rediscover myself and how to take care of myself. I am so blessed we have a place like this to be ourselves.

- Mary Delgado

Joining &Rise’s support group has been one of the most healing experiences of my life. I’m a survivor of child sexual abuse, and for many years I carried deep pain, shame, and fear that would resurface every decade through self-abuse. I joined this group because I wanted to finally break that cycle — and for the first time, I truly believe I can. Through the support, compassion, and understanding I found in &Rise, I’ve learned to love myself again and to see that I am not alone. I’ve discovered new ways to care for myself, to recognize my strength, and to face my past without being consumed by it. One of the most powerful moments for me was realizing I could look at a photo of my dad without feeling the same fear or anxiety I used to. I can even communicate with him now through email and text without my PTSD or anxiety taking over. That is something I never thought would be possible. &Rise has given me a space where healing isn’t just talked about — it’s lived, shared, and encouraged every day. I am learning that my past does not define my worth, and I am finally choosing myself with love and hope for the future. - Anonymous

In 2022, I came to &Rise during one of the hardest times in my life. I was in the middle of a long custody battle, trying to rebuild my life in recovery, and honestly just trying to make it through each day. Through counseling, Jennifer’s support groups, and the sound bowl meditations, I found a place where I felt safe, supported, and understood. That support helped me keep moving forward when I needed it most. Today, I have over four years of sobriety, I regained custody of my daughter, and I work everyday with individuals in recovery. I’ll always be grateful for the role &Rise played in my healing, and I hope my story reminds other women that things really can get better.

- Shannon K 

Before &Rise, I knew something wasn’t right. I knew I was working toward getting it right, but I was struggling to integrate everything I had been through. When I started going to the Monday night group, it gave me community, routine, comfort, and confidence. It also helped me uncover different levels of abuse I was experiencing. I was so immersed in the abuse I already knew that it was hard to see the one I was living in. &Rise helped me see it, and it was done with so much grace. Now I have space to breathe, to live, and to reintroduce myself to my own essence. If I had to sum up &Rise in one word, it would be integration. I learned that trauma can be integrated and processed. Doing that work has been the most pivotal thing I have ever done in my life, and I continue to do it.

-Shanice

I have noticed positive changes in my overall well-being since participating in the support groups. The groups have given me a safe space to express myself, share my experiences, and learn from others. I have become more comfortable opening up, communicating my feelings, and understanding that I am not alone in the challenges I face. Overall, participating in the support groups has helped me feel more supported, confident, and hopeful about my future. The most beneficial part of the support groups has been having a safe space where I can be myself, speak honestly about my feelings, and feel heard without being judged. Being able to share my experiences with people who understand has helped me realize that I am not alone in what I have gone through.

The support and encouragement I have received have helped me become more open, build my confidence, and learn that my feelings and experiences matter. I have also learned the importance of setting healthy boundaries, communicating my needs, and taking care of my emotional well-being. Hearing other people’s stories has given me hope and reminded me that healing takes time, and it is okay to take that journey one step at a time. Overall, the support groups have helped me feel less alone and more hopeful about becoming a stronger and more confident version of myself.

-Anonymous

I have had trouble in the past voicing my own thoughts about difficulties I experience in being neurodivergent and this group serves as a safe container that can help me be more accountable on a weekly basis.I have met women I never would have otherwise that I consider to be warm confidants, which isn’t easy to find!

-Robin

Recently, someone asked me, “Where do you find peace?” Usually, my answer would be the lake or the beach. But lately, it’s been in the space created at &Rise’s neurodivergent support group. It is the first place I have ever felt safe enough to fully unmask. And honestly, allowing myself to be seen in that way has been one of the most vulnerable things I’ve ever done. For a long time, my diagnosis was a shadow part of myself. I believed these parts of me made me less capable of succeeding, of being understood, and of navigating the world in the ways I thought I was supposed to. These parts also left me susceptible to a lot of trauma before I could bring them forward and understand this part of me more. But sitting in this group, I began to see those same traits reflected in other women. And instead of seeing something broken or something that needed to be fixed, I saw beauty. I saw creativity, depth, resilience, humor, and so many different ways of experiencing and moving through the world. I saw how much each woman brings to this world simply by being who she is.Somewhere along the way, I started to realize that the other women were seeing me that way, too. Having that kind of acceptance mirrored back to me has been life-changing. To be seen without having to mask, explain, minimize, or apologize for who I am has helped me begin to believe that I am capable of so much more than I ever allowed myself to imagine.In this group, I feel free to meet my own needs without judgment. I can move, take up space, and experiment with the accommodations that help me stay present, focus, connect, and express myself. I am learning what it feels like to stop fighting against the way my brain works and start understanding what it needs to thrive. This group of women feels like an answered prayer. I have never felt safer, more accepted, or more deeply seen in a space quite like this one. And there is something incredibly healing about finding belonging in a place where you don't have to become someone else to be worthy of it. Maybe that is what peace is, too.Not having to hide. Not having to prove yourself. Not having to work so hard to be acceptable. Just being able to show up as you are and discover that you were worthy of belonging all along.

-Molly

The groups at &Rise have helped me reclaim my power. In the year since I joined &Rise I have left multiple toxic relationships. This includes a 25-year friendship with who emotionally abused me using anger and shame. I started to recognize mistreatment in new relationships and setting boundaries quicker. &Rise gave me the confidence to broaden my horizons and stop limiting myself to my hometown. If you want to be part of something that empowers women to heal, make changes in their lives, and reclaim their power—and walking beside them in the process—then &Rise is what you are looking for.

-Diana W.

Coaching

“I have worked with life coaches in the past so I know the benefits from having a coach, but in this case I had been on a zoom meeting with Jennifer and learned about narcissism for the first time. I found out what I was dealing with within my marriage, that it wasn’t me that was the problem, and that I could go to Jennifer for help. She was my life preserver when I was drowning and didn’t know exactly what I was dealing with.

I am in the private Facebook group and enjoy the posts because they help me stay on track and are positive to my journey, I have also been in coaching with Jennifer for two months now and feel that she has helped me through texting, calling, and guidance and is available when I am struggling as well as celebrates with me when I am successful along my journey.

I would not have been able to make it on my own at times and she has really been there for me. Since Jennifer has been through her own trauma and knows where you are at and what you are going through, she validates your circumstances and teaches you how to not only cope but also to move past the trauma into a life where you can thrive and let your trauma go.

Jennifer has literally answered my text messages when I am triggered and helped me through situations in which my ex was causing me fear and anxiety. She has helped me to know I am not alone and I will be ok.”

- Helen L. - Coaching Client