When Karen Meekis first heard about a support group for survivors of sexual abuse, she jumped at the opportunity.

“I felt like it was my last resort or I was going to go crazy. I wanted healing so bad I was prepared to fight for it. It was a miracle that this service was available for me.”

From the age of three Karen and her two older brothers, grew up in a series of foster homes in Oregon, where Karen’s brothers were beaten viciously and Karen was sexually abused.

“I had to watch my brothers getting beaten. They’d line them up and we had to watch.

“I was terrified of men. I used to hide in th...