HOME Saheli gupshup
GupShup is a new Saheli-Boston group focusing on womens issues, supporting sisters, sharing experiences, and improving and empowering ourselves. Join us for great conversations, build empathy by listening, and develop yourself by hearing from psychologists, physicians and social workers. Receive and give support from a caring and experienced womens group. Join our e-group or visit our Facebook page to interact and participate.
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The goal of GupShup is to share information, impart knowledge, develop life skills, communicate ideas and provide friendship and support to women.
Small groups of women from various backgrounds and experiences come together four times a year, creating a sacred space where discussion is open, confidentiality honored and individuality respected. A host of topics are discussed: women in the community, South Asian families, issues facing South Asian immigrant women in the workplace, self-esteem, career changes, abusive situations, self-esteem and living through crisis, etc. Four meetings are held during the year. Apart from the regular meetings, groups get together informally to enjoy dinner, movies, retreats and days of prayer. The support groups are a wonderful way for women to minister to women and to develop lasting friendships.
GupShup is a new initiative of SaheliBoston
www.saheliboston.org
Saheli Helpline
(response within
24 hours)
1-866-4 SAHELI
Learn more about Saheli
Donate to Saheli Join free computer and English as a second language classes Volunteer for Saheli 3rd SAHELI GUPSHUP MEETING
Coping with Domestic Violence: Two Psychiatrists Discuss Successful Strategies
Dr. Rajendra M. Trivedi, MD, Stoneham, Mass, and Dr. Nasir A. Khan, MD, Newton, Mass. Exposure to violence over the lifespan is very common and is associated with long-term health problems, increased risk of re-victimization, and intergenerational violence. This discussion, led by two doctors, will focus on how to prevent violence within families and present successful strategies from their long experience in the field.
Saturday, March 10, 2012, 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
Burlington Public Library, Burlington, Mass.
Facilitators: Rekha Singh and Rita Shah of Saheli
GupShup Flier Saheli-March 10.docx
Saheli is now accepting applications for its 2012 internship!
Click here for more details
Citizenship Day Flyer.pdf
Saheli GupShup support group and this website were made possible by a grant from Community Health Networks (CHNA) Area 15
gouri banerjee and manisha prasad copyright 2011
Internship 
Intern at Saheli
Saheli is accepting applications for interns for the spring of 2012!
Internships last one semester and involve valuable contributions to Saheli's work including teaching computer literacy and ESL classes, supporting the domestic violence
program, and coordinating outreach, publicity, media and fundraising events for the organization.
Saheli works with diverse community organizations, libraries, student clubs, and Asian groups. Most of our interns work with a specific program leader. We attend events organized by many community groups and interns are required to attend some of these events. Depending on our needs, we create internships which vary from year to year. Most interns are volunteers, but on occasion we offer stipends. We encourage interested students to inquire about internship opportunities at Saheli. Based on the requirements of your school, Saheli can offer course credit for your work. You will be required to work 10-12 hours each week to obtain course credits.
Past interns have expressed great satisfaction with the experience and continue to be volunteers in the organization.
If you are interested in an internship at Saheli contact Seema Shenoy at sahelihelp_gmail.com
Please submit a resume and a cover letter stating your interest in Saheli, what type of work you hope to undertake with us, when you are available, and what your college requirements are (if any).
Posted January 1, 2012
About 
About Saheli GupShup
GupShup is a new Saheli-Boston group focusing on womens issues, supporting sisters, sharing experiences, and improving and empowering ourselves. Join us for great conversations, build empathy by listening, and develop yourself by hearing from psychologists, physicians and social workers. Receive and give support from a caring and experienced womens group.
Join our e-group or visit our Facebook page to interact and participate.
WOMEN FROM ALL RACES AND ETHNIC GROUPS ARE WELCOME
What is Saheli GupShup?
Saheli is a womens organization serving South Asian women and their families in Boston, Massachusetts. GupShup is a part of Saheli, a one-of-a-kind group that offers compassionate, thoughtful and caring help for immigrant women to discover their inner strength. The goal of Saheli GupShup is to build womens self esteem, courage, and cheerfulness, and help them to lead peaceful lives. Its purpose is to help women understand inner conflicts, share personal stories and learn how to be peaceful.
Mission of Saheli GupShup
The mission of Saheli GupShup is to provide support to South Asian immigrant women to find purpose and wholeness in all dimensions of their lives. The facilitated group support at GupShup is emotional, spiritual, physical and intellectual within a safe environment that promotes healing.
Saheli GupShup is not a therapy group, it is an organized group of individuals who share a common experience. GupShup is facilitated by a member of the group and it will focus on supportive communication.
Support groups can be very positive experiences. However it is possible that deeper issues may be triggered, especially for those who have had traumatic experiences. Saheli will refer women to appropriate professional help at no cost.
Saheli GupShup support group and this website was made possible
by a grant from Community Health Networks (CHNA) Area 15
Meetings Click Here For GupShup Meeting Dates
Saheli Group Meetings
Small groups of women from various backgrounds and experiences come together four times a year, creating a sacred space where discussion is open, confidentiality honored and individuality respected. A host of topics are discussed: women in the community, South Asian families, issues facing South Asian immigrant women in the workplace, self-esteem, career changes, abusive situations, self-esteem and living through crisis, etc. Four meetings are held during the year. Apart from the regular meetings, groups get together informally to enjoy dinner, movies, retreats and days of prayer. The support groups are a wonderful way for women to minister to women and to develop lasting friendships. Support Groups are formed on the basis of need. They provide opportunities to share and learn with like-minded women who have similar concerns and are facilitated with the help of trained professionals who donate their time.
A poll of women in the Boston South Asian community indicates women want to discuss issues including:
How women abandon themselves for the sake of the family; How women sacrifice themselves in trying to have a perfect career/family balance; The myths about relationships with relatives and children; The changing nature of relationships, arranged and other marriages; and, How to develop skills at creating healthy boundaries in relationships. The support group will be inclusive (religion, age, social class, language, etc.)
Other issues to be addressed in 2011-2012:
Losing Your Partner or Parent; Beyond Midlife; Career Transitions; Co-dependency; Depression & Anxiety; Finding Balance; Positive Life Coaching; Separation & Divorce; Abuse in the Home; and, Topics suggested by the group participants Group Leaders are Saheli Board Members
Group Coordinator:
Manisha Prasad
manishapd2000_yahoo.com
Meeting Dates Meetings in 2011
November 5th, 2011 Venue: Burlington Public Library,
Time: 2-4 pm Saturday
Facilitator: Sukanya Ray, Ph. D. Psychologist, Cambridge Health Alliance and Suffolk University.
Topic: Who Has the Power in Your Relationships?
Women in the support group will view a video Telling Amy's Story, the 60-minute video on the Verizon Foundation website, to identify similarities and differences between domestic abuse in the video and the South Asian home. Small group discussions, and follow up activities on the website will follow the meeting.
Other meetings will address specific personality types and communication styles that perpetuate abuse, and coach women in ways to diffuse tensions and conflict between children, in-laws and spouse. These discussions will be moderated by trained professionals in the field such as members of the Indian Medical Association of New England.
Other Topics and facilitators to be announced soon!
Click here to suggest a topic or facilitator
Meetings in 2012
January 14th, 2012 2 - 4:30 pm Burlington Public Library
March 10th, 2012
June 9th, 2012
Group Coordinator
Manisha Prasad
manishapd2000_yahoo.com
ABUSES ENDURED BY A WOMAN DURING HER LIFE CYCLE
Developed by: ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER INSTITUTE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
450 Sutter Street, Suite 600, San Francisco CA, 94108
415-954-9988 x 315 FAX: 415-954-9999
www.apiahf.org/apidvinstitue apidvinstitute_apiahf.org
See the Power and Control Wheel
Read the article
Resources for Women 
What is Saheli and What is Domestic Abuse.pdf
Survey of Physician-Patient Relationships in the South Asian Community in Boston.ppt
Intern Nahid and Salita on Domestic Violence.ppt
The New Year is a great time to commit to getting in shape and being healthy. Follow the link below to a great website that allows you to do just that. The program is free, sponsored by the YMCA, easy to sign up and get started right away. You can enter your food, exercise routines, keep records of what you ate, how much, calories consumed, and days needed to meet your goals. Try it! Its a lot of fun. Take charge of your own Health!
http://bostonymca.loseit.com/?welcome=1
Read the wonderful lessons about Love and Marriage, Raising Children, Work and Career, Money, Faith and Spirituality, and How to be Happy from American elders. The Legacy Project collected practical advice from over 1500 older Americans who have lived through extraordinary experiences and historical events. They offer tips on surviving and thriving despite the challenges we all encounter.
Enjoy their wisdom, the great quotes, and their advice.
About Saheli About Saheli
Saheli, the organization that coordinates GupShup, is a community-based womens organization in Massachusetts serving South Asian women and their families since 1996. Saheli was founded in collaboration with the India Association of Greater Boston (IAGB) with the mission of providing services to the South Asian community both locally and across the United States. Saheli works in Nashua NH and Shrewsbury MA as well.
Volunteers provide many support services, resources and guidance in areas of family abuse, career and health planning, as well as cultural and social opportunities. Moreover, Saheli has a special emergency fund to help women in crises. Each year, Saheli holds fund raisers to support services for the South Asian community.
Saheli offers resources to the entire South Asian community regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, age or gender. The group speaks many languages. Saheli is guided by an executive body of core members who are all South Asian women and an advisory board of distinguished community members of many races and ethnicities. Saheli welcomes you as a volunteer.
How can Saheli Help You?
When you contact Saheli yourself, through a friend, Police Department, or e-mail know that: Saheli will create a safe, non-judgmental environment with a range of culturally sensitive, language specific information and support services, and listen and educate you about your options. Our goal is the help empower clients to reach a point where they can be self-sufficient, healthy and free from violence.
For example, Saheli can:
Help you with safety planning Deal with immigration issues Advice on how and where to get copies of important documents Provide referrals to legal aid for custody, child support or divorce Arrange shelter for you and your children Help with restraining orders Help with obtaining documentation including filing incident reports Obtain interpretation services for court or other proceedings. Saheli Boston provides the following additional services:
Emergency cash assistance to victims of violence Support groups for women in abusive relationships Free cell phones through the Verizon Victims of Abuse Plan Computer literacy and English as a Second Language classes Assistance in acquiring skills, employment and educational opportunities Events INDIA New England Wedding Expo
Sunday, April 1, 2012
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The Ritz-Carlton, Boston, Mass.
Click here for more information and to register
Past Events
2ND SAHELI GUPSHUP MEETING
Choosing a Spouse: The Complexities of South Asian Marriage
Saturday, January 14th, 2012 2:00 - 4:30 pm
Venue: Burlington Public Library
Facilitator: Srila Srinivasan Ph. D. and Usha Vakil, Saheli
ARRANGED MARRIAGES.pdf
Indian Medical Association of New England and the Network of South Asian Professionals to hold event
February 17th, 2012
7:00 - 8:30 Speed Dating
9:00 - 11:30 Cocktails and Conversation
Click here to download the flyer
SAHELI GUPSHUP'S FIRST FLAGSHIP SUPPORT GROUP MEETING!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, November 5th, 2011
Venue: Burlington Public Library,
Facilitator: Sukanya Ray, Ph. D. Psychologist, Cambridge Health Alliance and Suffolk University.
Topic: Who Has the Power in Your Relationships?
Color IG flier with target logo.pdf
3-27 Workshop Brochure.pdf
3-13 Workshop Brochure.pdf
Why a women's support group 
Why a women's support group?
In South Asian cultures, family issues are rarely discussed with people outside the family; psychologists and psychiatrists are almost never consulted except in extreme crises and the police are feared. Many women suffer in silence without seeking help. They fear the loss of privacy, doubt they can be helped, and fear seeking help may escalate bad situations, rather than reduce tensions at home.
Women who are unable to use community resources for support often become locked into domestic abuse, violence, abandonment, substance abuse, denial of family privileges, and sometimes, homelessness.
Saheli advocates for culturally appropriate early interventions consisting of support, friendship and counseling to avoid family breakdown and believes that most interventions can save families, reduce costs in health and police services, incarceration, and serious health risks for women.
When women are assured professionalism, privacy and confidentiality, support can empower women to diminish instances of violence, abuse and poor health. By combining face-to-face meetings with an online Internet presence and a phone-in schedule, Saheli GupShup is designed to overcome serious barriers women face in joining support groups.
Group leaders are Saheli Board Members
Coordinator: Manisha Prasad
Stories from Clients Who Saheli GupShup is for
Saheli works with women of all ethnicities, ages and backgrounds to ensure they can live safe, healthy and happy lives. The following are accounts of women Saheli has helped recently. To protect their privacy, their names have been changed.
Varsha's Story
Varsha came to live in the US on an H4 visa with her husband and her child was born in the US. After 7 years of marriage, her husband abandoned her on a trip to Mumbai and left her without a passport for herself and her child. Her attempts to reach her husband failed repeatedly. After overcoming many obstacles, Varsha came back to her home in Massachusetts, US, only to find that the apartment was locked. She called 911 and with the help of the local police, Varsha was put in touch with Saheli Boston.
Saheli volunteers worked hard and found an Indian motel owner who gave Varsha a place to live temporarily. During this time, trained Saheli counselors provided Varsha a great deal of support and friendship. A well-known South Asian lawyer advised Varsha of her legal rights in the US, and helped her to document the abuse she had experienced. Within a few months, she helped Varsha to obtain a special U visa and work permit reserved for women who can document domestic violence.
Women from Saheli helped Varsha continuously over one year through this long process - finding the right lawyer, providing transportation, donating a laptop, and supporting Varsha with kindness and friendship in today's fast paced, busy and impersonal culture.
Today, we are happy to share the news with you that Varsha is working legally in the United States and on her way to a safe and secure life for herself and her child.
Each year, significant numbers of South Asian women are abandoned overseas by their spouses
Renu's Story
Renu's husband was unfaithful, physically and sexually abusive and used finances as a way to control and abuse his wife. Many women who seek help from Saheli suffer significant abuse when they marry men who are virtual strangers. Renu called the Saheli helpline 1-866-4SAHELI and visited our website. Saheli counselors advised Renu in three ways:
She was advised to seek psychological counseling to deal with the abuse and was referred to an appropriate counselor; To call 911 if she feared for her life; and, To make a safety plan with the help of Saheli's domestic abuse advocates. The Saheli safety plan requires a woman to collect her most important legal documents, her valuable and sentimental possessions, and certificates, and put them in a safe place in case she has to leave home quickly.
Soon, Renu's abuse became unbearable, and knowing that she had Sahelis to support her, she called 911. When the police arrived, they observed first-hand the physical abuse this young woman had endured. Renu was put up at a women's shelter. Working many hours with her, Saheli volunteers helped Renu to obtain a legal U Visa and work permit. Saheli board members provided funds for Renu to start on a degree program with a special Saheli fund called the Sujana Chalasani Fund for Women.
Today, we're proud to share the news that Renu works part-time legally and has started work on her degree towards certification. She lives in a womens shelter, works part-time and goes to school. She has almost completed her Masters degree.
Arranged marriages can
place young women in dangerous situations.
Parents often marry
daughters off without careful consideration of the character of the man they choose
