The Psychological Impact of Sexual Trauma
Sexual abuse -- whether in childhood or adulthood -- can have profound and wide-ranging psychological effects including PTSD, complex trauma, depression, anxiety, difficulties with intimacy and trust, and a damaged relationship with your own body and sense of self. These responses are entirely understandable and are not signs of weakness. With the right specialist support, healing is genuinely possible regardless of when the abuse occurred.
Shame, Disclosure and the Courage It Takes to Seek Help
Shame is one of the most significant barriers to seeking help after sexual abuse. Many survivors carry the weight of what happened in silence for years or decades. Our therapists understand the profound courage it takes to reach out and provide a space that is completely free from judgment, where you are believed without question and where you remain in control of every aspect of the therapeutic process.
Support in Northern Ireland
NI Counselling provides confidential, trauma-informed therapy for survivors of sexual abuse across Northern Ireland. Your safety, dignity and sense of control are central to everything we do. All sessions are completely confidential. In-person and online sessions are available.
Our Service Areas:
Belfast City
Co. Antrim
Co. Down
Derry/L'Derry
Remote NI
UK-wide Online
Expert Methodologies for Lasting Relief
We don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We utilize the gold standard of evidence-based psychological interventions.
Trauma-Informed, Survivor-Led Care
Every aspect of our approach is built around your safety, dignity and sense of control. Therapy itself should never replicate the powerlessness of abuse. You lead the pace and direction of every session and your therapist follows.
Specialist Trauma Processing
Our therapists are trained in specialist trauma approaches including EMDR and trauma-focused CBT that are particularly effective for sexual trauma. These approaches allow for healing without requiring exhaustive verbal recounting of experiences.
Rebuilding Safety and Trust
Sexual abuse profoundly affects the experience of safety and trust -- in others and in your own body. A central thread of the therapeutic work is gradually rebuilding a genuine felt sense of safety in yourself and in relationships, which is the foundation for everything else that recovery involves.
