Step 1: Write about your experience

Individual activity

15 min

Dozens of studies have shown that expressive writing helps with grief, PTSD, and insomnia. ¹ Many people feel relieved or happier soon after writing, and research shows that they continue to feel more optimistic for months afterwards.

Write about your harassment experience for fifteen minutes. Write the plain facts, then write about how you felt at the time and how you feel now. Then reflect on your feelings and write down your reflections. Messy is okay.

You may feel upset after writing, but this should pass within a few hours. We hope that writing down the experience will help to give you distance from the trauma and diminish its power.

If you find that you’re more upset rather than less upset after a few hours, try writing it down again. Sometimes writing about a trauma two or three times with breaks in between helps. However, not everyone is the same. If you continue to struggle with the the aftermath of harassment, you may want to seek support from a trusted friend, mentor, or mental health provider.

Step 2: Reflect on and share your journaling experience

Individual / Group activity

10 min

Take a moment to reflect on your journaling experience. How did it feel when you were writing? How does it feel now?

Go around the Circle and take turns sharing how it felt to write your story.

Step 1: Learn about the effects of sexual harassment

Individual/Group activity

5 min

Take a few moments to review what sexual harassment is, either as individuals or as a group, and learn terms for the psychological harms it can cause.

Sexual harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. It can also include offensive remarks about a person’s gender. For example, if someone makes offensive comments to you about women in general, it can be considered harassment. Victim and harasser can be of any gender (and even the same gender), but sexual harassment is most frequently directed at women and minorities and is considered a form of discrimination.

Betrayal trauma occurs when someone you trust and/or someone who has power over you mistreats you. For instance, it’s a betrayal trauma when your boss sexually harasses you. Research shows that betrayal trauma causes shame and leads to real, measurable harm, such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, problematic substance use, and physical illness. ²

Institutional betrayal happens when the institution you trust or depend upon mistreats you. It can be very overt or less obvious. It is institutional betrayal when a company fails to protect you at a time when you might reasonably expect it to—for instance, if it does not protect you from harassment. Like betrayal trauma, institutional betrayal can lead to mental and physical harm. ³

Betrayal blindness is when people appear to be unaware of or forgetful about harassment they’ve experienced. Victims, perpetrators, and witnesses may display betrayal blindness in order to preserve relationships, institutions, and social systems upon which they depend. If a survivor of harassment maintains cordial relations with the boss who harassed them, that may be an instance of betrayal blindness. Betrayal blindness is often a survival strategy. For instance, a person might see her boss exploit a coworker but turn a blind eye in order to keep a job she needs to care for her family.

DARVO stands for Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender. It’s a perpetrator strategy in which the guilty party chooses to Deny the behavior, Attack the individual doing the confronting, and Reverse the roles of Victim and Offender, so that the perpetrator adopts the victim role and accuses the true victim of being an offender. This can occur when a perpetrator says they were falsely accused and attacks the victim’s credibility.

Step 2: Identify and reflect on your experiences

Individual activity

15 min

Labeling experiences can help protect you from their negative effects. Think about your own experience of sexual harassment within the psychological framework identified above. How does each concept apply to your situation?

Betrayal trauma:
Did you experience this? How did you feel when it happened? How do you feel now?

Institutional betrayal:
Did you experience this? How did you feel when it happened? How do you feel now?

Betrayal blindness:
Did you experience this? How did you feel when it happened? How do you feel now?

DARVO (Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender):
Did you experience this? How did you feel when it happened? How do you feel now?

Step 3: Integrate key concepts into your story

Individual activity

5 min

Look back at the story you wrote in Activity 1. Is there anything you would add or describe differently in light of the key concepts?

You may wish to edit your story to help you tell it in Activity 3.

Step 1: Prepare to share stories

Individual activity

2 min

Know the risks
Before you start this activity, it’s important to recognize that sharing your story of harassment involves some risk. The person you share it with might respond in a way that hurts you, even if they mean well. Or the person you share it with might not keep your story private. It is important to trust your instincts and do what is most comfortable for you.

Focus on listening well
Talking about sexual harassment is hard, but we can make it a better experience by listening well. Use affirming body language: nod, lean forward, and maintain consistent eye contact. You can also give validating responses to help make the speaker feel heard. For example, make affirming sounds like “mmm” and “uh-huh” and mirror their emotions by saying things like, “Wow—sounds like that was scary for you.”

To learn more, check out our How To Talk About Sexual Harassment guide, which has detailed instructions for listening empathetically.

Step 2: Share your story with the group

Group activity

30—60 min

Go around the group and ask each person to share their story with the room, if they feel comfortable doing so.

Give every speaker the same amount of time so that everyone is heard. We recommend five minutes per person in groups of six or more, but you can take more time in groups of five or less.

Listen empathetically to the storyteller, follow the listening guidelines from Step 1, and don’t interrupt. Let the speaker stay in control of their story.

Once each speaker has finished, you might ask them open questions, if time allows. You could ask “How did ____ make you feel?” or “Can you say more about ____?”

If you’re telling your story and at any time you feel uncomfortable about how the conversation is going, it’s always okay to stop. You can say, “It’s hard for me to talk about this.”

After each person’s time as storyteller has ended, thank them for sharing their story. You might also tell them you appreciate their courage and strength.

Step 3: Reflect on telling your story

Group activity

5 min

Go around the group and say one word to express how you’re feeling now that you’ve shared your story.

Step 1: Do a self-care inventory

Individual activity

10 min

Think about a time when you felt physically healthy. How were you eating? Which foods made you feel nourished? How were you exercising? What activities made you feel energized?

Think of a time when you felt well rested. What was your sleep pattern like? Did you have a bedtime routine that helped?

Think of a time when you felt happy and grounded. Were you spending time with certain friends or relatives? Who were they? Were you keeping a journal? Were you practicing meditation, yoga, or another relaxation technique?

List other self-care strategies that you’ve tried in the past. Which worked best? Which were less effective?

Step 2: Share self-care strategies

Group activity

15 min

As a group, share the self-care strategies you have found most effective in the past.

Consider building these strategies into your daily routine to help you heal.

Step 1: Identify the action you’re going to take

Individual activity

2 min

Take a moment to decide on a self-care activity that you’ll build into your routine in the next month.

Step 2: Share your One Action

Group activity

1 min per member

One by one, go around the group and complete the following statements:

• I’ll commit to doing ________________ for self-care in the next month.

Housekeeping Note: If you’re in a Lean In Circle or plan to meet with this group again, we recommend you give an update on your One Action during your next meeting. At the end of this guide, you’ll find an optional worksheet to help you prepare your update.