Childhood sexual abuse doesn’t end in childhood: why survivors need specialist support

 

Childhood sexual abuse is often spoken about as something that happened in the past. But for many survivors, its impact continues long after childhood has ended.

It can affect how someone feels about themselves, how safe they feel in the world and their ability to trust other people. It can shape relationships, emotional wellbeing and everyday life. Some survivors may experience anxiety, depression, flashbacks, nightmares or dissociation; others may struggle to understand why they respond to particular situations in the way they do.

And for many, it can take years, sometimes decades, before they feel able to talk about what happened.

The scale of childhood sexual abuse is significant. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that 9.1% of adults had experienced sexual abuse before the age of 18, rising to 13.9% of women. Behind each number in these statistics is an individual whose experiences, circumstances, and route to recovery will be different. There is a uniqueness to every survivor story, leaving an imprint which they are living and learning to cope with.

Ref: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/abuseduringchildhoodinenglandandwales/march2024

At One in Four, a London-based charity specialising in supporting adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual violence and trauma, we see both the lasting impact abuse in childhood can have into adulthood and the extraordinary capacity people have to recover.

Recovery cannot be rushed

There is no single way that a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, or non-recent child sexual abuse (NRCSA), will respond to what happened to them. For some, the connection between difficulties experienced in adulthood and childhood trauma may be clear. For others, that understanding may emerge much later.

Trauma can affect trust, relationships, self-esteem and emotional regulation. Responses that may appear difficult to understand in adulthood can make more sense when viewed in the context of what somebody had to do to survive experiences over which, as a child, they had little or no control.

That understanding is fundamental to One in Four’s approach.

Established in 1999, One in Four has more than two decades of experience supporting survivors. From centres in North and South London, the charity provides specialist long-term counselling for adults, alongside advocacy, psychoeducational support and resources for survivors. It also works to improve wider understanding of childhood sexual abuse through professional training and awareness-raising.

Central to the charity’s work is the belief that recovery from complex trauma takes time.

While many counselling services necessarily operate within relatively short treatment timeframes, One in Four can offer survivors longer-term one-to-one trauma-informed counselling. Survivors can work with the charity for up to two years.

This is important because therapy is not simply about asking somebody to recount what happened to them. For someone whose trust was profoundly damaged during childhood, establishing a safe therapeutic relationship can itself take time. Consistency, patience, and the opportunity to work at an individual’s pace can provide the foundations on which a survivor begins to explore the impact of their experiences.

Recovery does not fit into a rigid timetable.

Moving from surviving towards living

One of the most important messages we want survivors to hear is that healing is possible.

Recovery does not mean forgetting or erasing what happened. Nor does it mean that there is a point at which every survivor should consider themselves “fixed”.

Instead, it can mean understanding trauma responses that once felt inexplicable. It can mean developing ways to manage difficult emotions, beginning to build safer, healthier relationships, feeling greater control over decisions, and recognising strengths that may previously have been hidden by the need to just get through the day.

At One in Four, we help survivors reach a point where their personal history no longer determines how they live their lives.

Survivors are not defined solely by what happened to them.

From my very first session with One in Four, I’ve experienced a profound shift in my outlook on life. With only three sessions under my belt, the impact has been remarkable, instilling in me a newfound sense of hope and direction. For the first time, I have a space where my thoughts and feelings can be expressed freely, without the fear of judgement or burdening others. This liberating environment has been essential in helping me navigate the complexities of my emotions. One in Four’s professionalism, coupled with a deep sense of empathy and understanding, has provided me with the tools and support necessary to start reframing my life for the better. Survivor’s own words

Support beyond the therapy room

Counselling is a central part of One in Four’s work, but supporting survivors also means recognising the wider challenges they may face.

For some, this includes navigating the criminal justice system. One in Four provides specialist advocacy to help survivors understand their options around reporting childhood sexual abuse and the processes that may follow.

The charity also provides psychoeducational workshops and resources that help survivors better understand trauma and develop practical techniques for managing its effects.

Beyond direct survivor support, there is another important task: improving society’s understanding of childhood sexual abuse.

One in Four provides specialist training for counsellors, social workers and other professionals. It also works to raise awareness so that people who encounter survivors, whether professionally or personally are better equipped to understand the impact trauma can have.

Breaking the silence

Despite greater public awareness of sexual abuse, it remains an extraordinarily difficult subject to talk about both for the survivors themselves and those around them.

Silence and shame can surround childhood sexual abuse for many years.

For some survivors, even contemplating talking about what happened to them is overwhelming. Those around them who want to help and support may feel lost as the survivor tries to navigate their cascade of emotions and feelings.

Some survivors fear they will not be believed. Others may worry about the consequences of speaking about what happened, particularly when the person who abused them was known to them or their family.

This is one reason specialist organisations remain so important.

A survivor seeking help needs somewhere they can be heard without judgement and supported by people who understand the complexities of childhood trauma. A safe space to “name and tame” their feelings. They also need services with the time and expertise to recognise that recovery will look different for every individual.

Demand for this support is considerable, while charities providing specialist services must continually work to secure the funding needed to maintain them.

That should concern all of us.

Supporting survivors of childhood sexual abuse is not simply about responding to something that happened many years ago. It is about recognising the impact that those experiences can continue to have today – on individuals, families, relationships and communities – and ensuring people can access meaningful support when they are ready for it.

At One in Four, we have seen what can happen when survivors are given that opportunity.

Childhood sexual abuse may be part of someone’s history. It does not have to dictate their future.

One in Four provides specialist support for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual violence and trauma from its centres in North and South London. To find out more about its counselling and advocacy services, survivor resources, professional training, or ways to support its work, visit the One in Four website. https://oneinfour.org.uk/