Survivors of Incest Anonymous is a twelve-step self-help recovery program for survivors of child sexual abuse. We define incest very broadly. There are no dues or fees. Survivors of Incest Anonymous provides support groups, literature, pen pals, bulletings, and speakers. For more information on SIA as a whole, check out the World Service Office and other information below. 12 Steps of SIA 12 Traditions of SIA SIA Definition of Incest SIA Def. of Ritual Abuse SIA World Service Office Please email us with any questions, or call 510-387-4657! "In SIA we share our experiences and common feelings. We realize that we felt we had to protect our caretakers from this horrible secret, as if they were not participants. We felt alienated from the non-abusive family members. Often, greater anger is directed toward them since it is safer to get angry at people we perceive to be powerless. We became caretakers in order to maintain an image of a nurturing family. Our feelings of betrayal by our families are immeasurable. We need to mourn the death of the ideal family that many of us created in our own imaginations. "In dealing with this pain, it feels as if we are pulling the scab off a wound that never healed properly, and it hurts. However, it is easier to cry when we have friends who are not afraid of our tears. We CAN be comforted - that is why we are here. Our pain is no longer in vain. We will never forget, but we can, in time, end the regretting that accompanies destructive remembering. We can learn, One Day at a Time, that we are incest SURVIVORS, rather than incest victims." (From the SIA Welcome) Welcome to the Northern California SIA Intergroup! An intergroup is a group of representatives from different meetings in a particular area. Any Northern California member of SIA is encouraged to participate in the Northern California intergroup by joining our online meeting (conducted via email)! What can you expect from your Intergroup? With everyone's help, we'll be able to tell you about new meetings, share news from existing meetings, help with outreach, and maybe even do new and exciting things like retreats, miniconferences, and newsletters! Intergroups connect meetings and help share information so SIA can grow. As individuals in SIA, we learn that we are not alone. As members of an intergroup, each meeting can learn that it is not alone. We are all part of a larger community that can share ideas and encouragement - and thanks to the internet, we can do it no matter how far apart we seem to be! Each SIA meeting should have an intergroup representative who can bring the meeting's ideas and needs to the larger local community, and bring news back from that community to their meeting. Does your meeting have one? All you need is an email address and a time to report back to your meeting every month. Email norcalsia at gmail dot com with your Northern CA location in order to join! You do not have to have a meeting near you; SIA provides online meetings, phone meetings, pen pals, long-distance sponsors, and other ways to work the program even when there is no meeting in your area. You are welcome to email us with any questions or for anything you need. Local Meetings: Mondays: Palo Alto: Step Study/Meditation Meeting, 2nd & 4th Mondays, at 5:30 pm First Lutheran Church 600 Homer Ave & Webster, in Palo Alto (map) San Jose: "Nothing Too Heavy to Share" meeting 7:00 pm Willow Glen Baptist Church 1292 Minnesota and Hicks (map) Tuesdays: Davis: 317 East 8th Street 95616, women's meeting, pro-survivors welcome, please call Andrea at 530-304-2576 for time and to confirm location! Wednesdays: Oakland: "Nothing too Heavy to Share" meeting, 6:00-7:00 pm Mandana Community Recovery Center, Room B (just down the hall from the front door) map. Thursdays: Oakland: "Healing the Child Within," 6:00-7:30 pm Mandana Community Recovery Center, Room B (just down the hall from the front door) Sundays: Santa Cruz: 7:30 pm Survivors Healing Center 2301 Mission St Ste #1 (map) There are also Online Meetings!