Child abuse survivors group meets every other Sunday

Seven years ago, Canyon Country resident Karen Mills knew there was something meaningful about talking to someone who was also an adult survivor of child abuse like herself.

“I met my friend while teaching ballroom in Hollywood,” she said. “After talking, she said she had never met someone that went through the same thing as she did and it felt nice to talk. The feeling was mutual.”

Mills took the initiative from there to start a Santa Clarita Valley chapter of the Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, an international self-help support group program designed for individuals who have experienced neglect, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

Throughout her childhood, Mills faced abuse from her foster family, which motivated her to become independent at the age of 18.

“I didn’t know what I went through and I didn’t know that it was wrong,” she said. “But I knew that I was unhappy. I just knew that my spirit was dying.”

After leaving her foster family she went off to college and worked five jobs to make ends meet. She then went into the computing industry, tried painting and ballroom dancing, which helped her better express herself, but Mills still felt she needed something more.

That’s when she met mutuals and learned about the Adult Survivors of Child Abuse program, which offers a 21-step healing and recovery workbook for anyone who does not have access to therapy.

The SCV peer support group has more than 200 members and offers a secure space for attendees to share their abuse, recovery experiences and hope.

The group meets every other Sunday. The next meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Newhall. For location and topic details visit www. meetup.com/Santa-Clarita-ASCA or contact Mills at 661-450-8842, or via email at ascasantaclarita@yahoo.com.