Workshops and retreats with other men who have had similar experiences and struggles can be very healing. Many men report huge reductions in shame, decreased sense of aloneness, etc.

However, for some men these experiences can be overwhelming and otherwise not helpful. It's definitely not a good "first step" when it comes to finding help, but it's an option to keep in mind.

If you do think that you want to do a workshop or retreat, make sure you really research it, including asking the leaders/facilitators as many questions as you need, so you can know as much as possible what to expect before deciding whether to go.

The Next Step Counseling and Training of Mike Lew and Thom Harrigan offers workshops across the U.S. and around the world. Lew is author of Victims No Longer, considered by many to be the best book ever written on the subject, and Leaping upon the mountains: Men proclaiming victory over child sexual abuse.

MaleSurvivor offers Weekends of Recovery several times a year in the U.S.