A two-day conference will train therapists and lay, religious and clergy pastoral ministers in how to facilitate a parish-based support group for victim survivors of sexual abuse.

"The Trauma Recovery Program: Healing of Mind, Body and Spirit" is sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Victims Assistance Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Oct. 3 and 4 at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Following the conference, Assistance Ministry will begin to set up support groups in each pastoral region of the archdiocese for adult victims who were harmed by sexual abuse as children, whether the abuse happened in a church, school or within the family. Each support group will be facilitated by a therapist with the assistance of a pastoral minister supporting the faith journey of each participant. The program is based on the work of Dr. Colin A. Ross, a trauma specialist.

"We want to create safe places where victim survivors can hear each other," said Society of the Holy Child of Jesus Sister Sheila McNiff, coordinator of Assistance Ministry. "They will see that they are not the only one, and can hear how somebody else has been on the journey of healing and how others have searched for God."

The training conference for therapists and pastoral ministers takes place Oct. 3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Oct. 4, 9-11:45 a.m. The fee is $75 and therapists can receive 10 CEUs. Conference participants will also include members of Protestant and Jewish traditions.

The archdiocese will fund the work of the therapists facilitating support groups in Catholic churches. Parishes that want to sponsor a group and therapists or pastoral ministers who want to attend the conference can call Sister McNiff at (213) 637-7650.

---Ellie Hidalgo