Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence

Experiences where sexual boundaries are crossed can include unwanted sexual contact, pressure or coercion, loss of choice, exploitation, or sexual experiences that did not feel safe or consensual. These experiences may happen in childhood or adulthood, within relationships or outside of them, and are not always recognised or named at the time they occur. What we carry afterward is often complex. Alongside fear, shame, anger, or confusion, there may be a deep sense of betrayal — of trust, safety, or expectation — particularly when harm occurred in relationships or was dismissed, minimised, or not believed. These experiences can shape how we relate to our bodies, our sense of safety, and our capacity for closeness or trust. In therapy, we attend to how these experiences continue to shape emotional and bodily life in the present. The work does not require recounting events or using particular labels. Instead, we focus on supporting emotional and somatic processing, allowing what has been carried to be understood and integrated, and supporting a greater sense of agency, continuity, and connection — with ourselves, our bodies, and our lives.