Listen, believe, support - Yellow

Professionals blog

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The impact of trauma on pregnancy, birth & parenthood

Becoming a parent is a life-changing experience, and for many, it can also be a challenging one. If you’ve experienced rape or sexual abuse, the past trauma can feel like a heavy weight, influencing your experiences throughout pregnancy, birth, and the early stages of parenthood.

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5 FREE resources: to help you start healing

We understand that whether you’re on our waitlist, unsure if 1:1 support is the right fit for you, or simply exploring what feels most comfortable, the choices and options available can sometimes feel overwhelming.

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Sleep and trauma

Sleep is crucial for everyone. However, for victim-survivors of sexual violence, it can play a vital role in allowing the brain and body to start healing, processing emotions, and restoring energy levels, which are often depleted after experiencing trauma.

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Somatic Therapy: connecting body and mind

Healing from any kind of trauma can be a challenging process. However, there are many techniques that people might find beneficial to explore as part of their healing journey.

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Neuroplasticity: the power of the brain in healing after sexual violence

An experience of rape or sexual abuse can impact us physically, emotionally, and psychologically. It’s common to struggle with feelings of shame, self-blame, and negative thoughts afterwards.

person holding a small trans flag on a stick

Celebrating trans, non-binary and intersex inclusion

We were thrilled to hold our first Trans Inclusion Practice Sharing event at then end of last year. An online ‘lunch and learn’ for people working in sexual violence support services across the country.

Bronze scales on a desk next to open notebook and judges hammer.

What next for people with lived experience when the justice process fails?

I usually enjoy my job as a trauma counsellor for SARSAS – it’s a privilege to participate in clients’ recovery journeys. However, I find supporting clients who have had negative experiences while seeking justice some of the saddest journeys, and the ones most likely to invoke my anger at the injustices within this broken system.

women with eyes shut and hands to her chest.

What is the Window of Tolerance?

Have you heard of the Window of Tolerance?

We talk about the window of tolerance a lot in our support and group work and many victim-survivors find it helpful as a way of understanding some of their responses to trauma.

A cartoon image of a man shouting at a women. She is sitting on the floor and he is above her. There is a silhouette of fists behind him.

Trauma Bonding

Trauma bonding is a common psychological response to cycles of abuse.

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Why we keep telling women to “stay safe” on nights out and why it is such a problem

Our comms volunteer shares her thoughts on sexual violence at university and on nights out and discusses what needs to change.