If you are the loved one of a survivor, your role in the your loved one's recovery is vital.
It natural and understandable to feel completely out of your depth: overwhelmed, with no idea what to say or how to truly help.
It's not unusual for both survivors and their supporters to struggle with feeling helpless after sexual assault has happened, and it can take some time to learn how to respond.
For many survivors, support is a crucial part of the healing process, and receiving compassionate and validating responses from friends and family can make a real difference.
It’s completely fine to not have all the answers. Most of the time non-judgemental listening and just letting your loved one know you are completely there for them is the very best thing you can do.
Let your loved one know that you care, that you don’t blame them, and that you believe in them.
There are no quick or easy fixes for healing from sexual violence, so it’s important to be patient when the process seems to be taking what some consider to be a long time.
To be an effective support to your loved one, it's crucial that you take care of yourself. We can help you with this.
We are available 24/7 and can answer all your questions about how to support the survivor in your life and how to look after yourself. Contact us below.