The power of creativity in healing: songs of survival
Recently, two people reached out to us independently, each having recorded a song about their personal experiences of sexual violence. Their powerful and deeply moving songs serve as a testament to resilience, and we’re honoured they asked us to share their work.
This blog talks about the impact of sexual violence on people’s lives.
At SARSAS, we are always seeking ways to amplify the voices of survivors. What better way than through music – an art form that speaks directly to the heart? These beautiful songs not only showcase their strength but also inspire us to reflect on the broader role that creativity plays in the healing process after trauma.
Creativity, in all its forms – whether music, writing, art, photography, dance, or drama – can offer a profound way for survivors to express themselves. It provides an outlet for emotions that may be difficult to articulate through words alone. While talking therapies are invaluable in processing trauma, they are not the only path to healing. Creative expression can offer an alternative or complementary way to navigate the journey of rebuilding lives after traumatic experiences.
We asked Izzie and Natalie what song writing and singing mean to them. Here’s what they had to say about the role creativity plays in their healing process.
If They Knew What You Did
by Izzie Derry
“I carried what happened to me for a long time without telling anyone, until one day this song burst out of me. It felt incredible to put all of the sadness, fear and anger I felt into words.
Songwriting has always been a way for me to process my emotions, and this one took that to a whole new level. Releasing the track has been really hard, as I’ve had to have some difficult conversations with loved ones, but I feel a lot lighter than I did before.
I have already had so many wonderful women express that this song has helped them too, which is the best feeling. I hope it can help many more.“
Uncomfortable Stories
by Natalie Brice, Sinnober
“Uncomfortable Stories was written over ten years ago and was initially a creative response to my own experience. However, it soon became clear that it was a call to arms to expose the injustices levelled at survivors every step of the way, and to ultimately empower people to speak out.
The lyrics of the song arrived quickly in a stream of consciousness, and there are lines in the song that were actually said to me by doctors, nurses, police, family, and friends.
At the time I wrote it, I was living with PTSD, on medication, and I didn’t feel safe anywhere. The experience of not being believed, judged, and shamed is sadly a universal one. I wanted to take all of that shame and put it back where it belongs: with the perpetrator, and with people who believe it is acceptable to further exacerbate the trauma of someone who is already on their knees.”.
Creativity in healing
At SARSAS, we often incorporate creative materials and activities into our support sessions and group work. Whether it’s making glitter jars, drawing mandalas, or using art within our 1:1 session, we recognise the transformative power of creativity in emotional healing.
To explore this further, we spoke with Georgie, our resident Art Therapist, about the significance of creativity for survivors of sexual violence. She shared her insights on how nurturing creativity can be a vital tool for healing, self-discovery, and empowerment.
“Some people can struggle to find the right words to talk about memories or express difficult or complicated feelings. Art making or indeed any kind of creative expression can cut through these barriers and help us to make sense of our experiences. People have used art for centuries to heal and it can be another mode of working that suits many people.”.
Has creativity played a part in your own healing journey? If you’d like to share your story to inspire other survivors, we’d love to hear from you. Please email our Communications Team at media@sarsas.org.uk.
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Kinergy closure statement
We are deeply saddened by the closure of Kinergy, an organisation that has provided invaluable support to survivors of sexual violence for nearly 30 years.
