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How We Can Help Family and Friends

Support for affected others of sexual abuse

Supporting a loved one after sexual abuse can be emotionally challenging and may raise complex feelings for you as well.

When someone close to you has experienced sexual abuse, whether recently or in the past, it can feel overwhelming and frightening. As a family member, friend, or loved one, you may worry about saying or doing the wrong thing, or about making an already difficult situation harder.

Many parents, for example, whose child has been sexually abused experience intense feelings of guilt and self-blame, often questioning whether they could have prevented what happened. These feelings can have a significant impact on their own wellbeing and on their ability to support their child.

At Safeline, we understand how challenging this can be, and you do not have to face it alone. We offer a wide range of support services for people affected by someone else’s sexual trauma, including parents, partners, siblings, extended family members, friends, and colleagues.

How Family and Friends can help a Survivor

Little Girl with butterfly wings on her back looking away from the viewer.

The weekly counselling sessions were my chance for me to talk through my worries or fears and to know none of what happened was my fault.

Parent

You deserve support too

Counselling, Psychotherapy, and Arts Therapies

Our counselling services provide a private and confidential space for you to explore your reactions, thoughts, and feelings. Many people find that talking to someone outside the situation helps them gain a fresh perspective and manage their emotions, enabling them to better support their loved ones.

We offer:

Talking Therapies – To help process your emotions and build coping strategies.
Creative Therapies, including Art Therapy – For those who find it easier to express feelings through creative outlets.

These services are available face-to-face for people in Warwickshire and Coventry, as well as online for adults nationwide.

Counselling and Therapy

Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA) and Children’s ISVA Services

Our ISVA services provide practical and emotional support to survivors and their families. This includes guidance through the Criminal Justice System, should that be the chosen path, as well as advocacy, advice, and information tailored to your needs.

Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVA)

Prevention and Early Intervention Services for Children and Young People

Talking about child sexual exploitation can feel daunting, but these conversations are crucial for keeping children safe.

Common concerns we hear from parents and carers include:

“My child is too young to understand.”
“I don’t know how to explain it.”
“The topic might frighten my child.”
“I don’t know enough about the subject.”

Our parental training sessions and learning resources are designed to address these concerns.

Prevention and Early Intervention

Helpline and Online Services

National Male Survivor Helpline and Online Services

This dedicated service supports men and boys across England and Wales, as well as their families and friends.

Helpline: 0808 800 5005
Text Service: 07860 065 187
Live Chat: Available via our website.
Email: support@safeline.org.uk

National Telephone & Online Counselling Service

We offer trauma-informed telephone and online counselling to individuals aged 16 years and over in England and Wales affected by childhood sexual abuse and to those who support them such as non-abusing family members.

Email for information: onlinecounselling@safeline.org.uk
Telephone for information: 01926 402498