Report from the Retreat:Leaping Upon the Mountains
By Randy P. Orso *
In August, 2008 , I attended “Leaping Upon the Mountains: A Men’s Recovery Weekend” for male survivors of sexual abuse.The retreat was held at Kirkridge Conference and Retreat Centerwhich has a proud tradition of prayer and protest within the Christian tradition and is located in Bangor , PAon a wooded ridge in the Pocono Mountains.
Mike Lew M. Ed. and Thom Harrigan L.I.C.S.W of The Next Step Counseling in Brookline , MAled the retreat. Next Step Counseling has a very informative websitehttp://www.nextstepcounseling.org . Mike Lew is also a noted author ofVictims No Longer: the Classic Guide for Men Recovering from Sexual Child Abuse, andLeaping upon the Mountains: Men Proclaiming Victory over Sexual Child Abuse. Thom leads groups for male survivors and works extensively with survivors of clergy abuse.
The retreat embraces the new dynamics of recovery that have happened in recent past years, such as no longer being forced to suffer alone and the collaborative efforts of survivors and professionals to develop and recognize resources and support systems that benefit the recovery process.This was the 18thannual weekend workshop at Kirkridge for non-offending adult male survivors of sexual child abuse and other boyhood trauma,the goal of which was “to offer a recovery experience in a safe, powerful environment of shared healing.”The reality of the possibility of recovery from such trauma was evident as each person shared hisfeelings, stories, struggles and successes.
I purchased Mike Lew’s books and was particularly glad to have a chance to have the new expanded edition ofVictims No Longer: Second Edition.
I met people from Massachusetts and was eager to share with them my experiences with the Transformation Center (www.transformation-center.org). Many of the discussions were heavy topics but not without moments of celebration for surviving all attendees have been through.Emotions ran deep and strong and people brought themselves to each group, lunch table and dinner with a lot of dignity and strength, openness and compassion.I am forever changed because the weekend brought with it a new understanding of being one of a great many people with a similar trauma.It is their opening of that community to me that has strengthened my recovery and given me an additional resource that I shall not cease in advocating for others to have that same chance.
The statute of limitations on sexual abuse expires often before perpetrators can be apprehended and I join leaders like Cheryl Jacques a lawyer and gay rights activist, Eileen McNamara a Globe Columnist, David Clohessy leader of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), and others on calling on the Massachusetts Legislature to eliminate the statute of limitations on sexual assault. I continue to stay in touch with the attendees of the retreat weekend by email and phone and they have helped me through the disappointing times I have had seeking justice and recovery. Leaping Upon the Mountains is not merely a retreat weekend but a community of support and a network of coping, courage and recovery for survivors of abuse.
* The author, Randy P. Orso, is a former Board of Director Member of M-POWER and the Transformation Center, a former NAMI-MASS volunteer and a former Peer Educator with Vinfen's Peer Educator's Project. He also was formerly employed by South Bay Mental Health in Plymouth, MA as an group discussion leader for their Day Treatment Program. He is a victim of clergy-sex abuse that occured when he was only 7 serving as an altar boy at Our Lady of Assumption Parish in Green Harbor, Massachusetts. He has moved to Pennsylvania and continues to advocate strongly for good mental health treatment for victims of clergy-sex abuse.