Support Group for Families and Loved Ones of Sex Buyers
Guided by Jen Piela, SEP Facilitator & Healthy-Relationships Educator
Join us virtually every Sunday evening at 7 PM (Eastern)
Meet Jen
Jen Piela is a coach, wellness advocate, and group facilitator with over 20 years of experience helping people navigate the messier parts of life. She has spent her career creating safe, compassionate spaces for those facing the quieter, more complicated kinds of change - the ones that shake your sense of self and leave you searching for a new way forward.
Her work with families facing betrayal is rooted not only in professional training but also in a deep, personal understanding of what it takes to gently rebuild when life turns upside down. Jen believes healing doesn’t come with a timeline, but that it’s made easier when we don’t have to walk the road alone.
Outside of group work, Jen finds steadiness in long runs, joy in baking (decorated sugar cookies are the go-to), and purpose in the everyday moments with her two kids and their dog, Kona. Life hasn’t gone according to plan - but she’s learned that the detours often lead to the most meaningful places. She brings that perspective, along with a whole lot of heart, into the spaces she holds.
About the Group
Discovering that a loved one is a sex buyer - or struggling with sexual or porn addiction - can be disorienting, isolating, and overwhelming. Over the last two decades of solicitor education work in Columbus, family members of sex buyers have often reached out to us asking where they could turn for help. Until now, there has been no dedicated space to meet that need.
This group is our response. We are proud to finally provide a resource that was born out of community requests and shaped by real need.
The live, online support group offers:
- A confidential, judgement-free space to process shock, anger, grief, and questions.
- Skilled facilitation from an SEP relationships educator who understands betrayal trauma and healthy boundaries.
- Practical tools for communication, safety planning, boundary setting, and next-step clarity.
- Community - connection with others walking a similar path so you don’t have to do this alone.
Who it’s for: spouses, partners, parents, and close family members of sex buyers and/or individuals with sexual/porn compulsivity.
Why this matters
From surveys of more than 1,000 men who have attended Columbus’s sex-buyer intervention programs since 2007, 49% reported being in a committed relationship at the time of arrest. This group exists to support the families who are affected, often in silence.
What you’ll gain
- Language for hard conversations
- Boundary and safety frameworks that respect your needs
- A roadmap for stabilizing daily life (sleep, routines, supports)
- Clarity on options: individual therapy, couples work, separation, or staged disclosure
- Community resources and crisis contacts
Group values & norms
- Respect & confidentiality
- No shaming; no minimizing harm
- Your pace is the right pace
- Boundaries are healthy
- Evidence-informed, survivor-aware support
Details & Logistics
- Format: Live, online via Google Meet (camera optional)
- Cadence: Weekly, 75 minutes
- Size: 8–12 participants per cohort
- Confidentiality: First names only in group; private pre-screen required
- Cost: Free of charge — thanks to community support, this group is offered at no cost to participants
FAQ
Is this therapy?
This is a facilitator-led support group, not clinical therapy. We’ll provide referrals if therapy is the right next step.
Can my partner attend?
This space is for family members only. If you need resources for the buyer, we can point you to SEP staff with experience in offender intervention.
What if I miss a week?
We’ll share a brief recap and grounding prompts; you can rejoin the following session.
Get Involved
If you’re interested in joining the support group, please fill out the form below. Jen will follow up with you directly via email with details on next steps.