Specialist support work
Our team of Specialist Support Workers can provide specialist support to people affected by rape and sexual abuse, aged 18+, across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Specialist support provides you with 1:1 support from one of our team who has specific skills and understanding of the impact of sexual abuse. Your specialist support worker will take time to understand what support would have the most positive impact on your life and design a programme to suit you. This may include but is not limited to:
Emotional support and information
- techniques to cope with anxiety
- techniques to cope with flashbacks, triggers and nightmares
- self-care
- information on trauma and its impact.
Practical support
- supporting you to access housing
- supporting you to access education
- writing letters and advocacy
- working with other support services.
You are welcome to share as much or as little about your experiences as you would like, however, specialist support is not a form of counselling or therapy. Your support will focus on practical solutions and strategies to help you to regain control over your life, build on your strengths, and be able to think positively about your future.
Your specialist support worker can support with you for up to 6 months. This is usually around 12 sessions. Sessions can be in-person, over Zoom, on the phone or a mixture.
For more information on our specialist support service, contact Bristol Office: 0117 929 9556, Taunton Office: 01823 324 944, email info@sarsas.org.uk or complete our online request for support form.
If you are a professional and a client you are working with would like a referral to this service, you can download a referral form and return it to us by mail or via secure email systems. We will then contact your client directly to arrange an initial assessment.
We also provide specialist support for women and non-binary people with learning disabilities and/or Autism.
Frequently asked questions
Useful resources
Useful links
In this section
The latest from our news and blogs
Shame must change sides
In four words, Gisèle Pelicot articulated what all women around the world need to hear. I want to explore the experience of shame as a victim of rape, because sometimes it’s just not as easy as “I shouldn’t be ashamed, so I won’t be”.
Rape Culture: not just a buzzword
A university student, who experienced sexual violence during the first month of enrolling, reflects on the aftermath and the pervasive nature of rape culture on campus and within wider society.
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.
