Taste of Recovery has been designed as a three-week course with a daily mini lesson, no longer than 20 minutes: https://tor.steppingstonesnorthwales.co.uk/

Sexual abuse is a violation of power by someone with more power over a person who is vulnerable.

This violation takes a sexual form and involves a breach of trust, a breaking of boundaries and a profound violation of the survivor’s sense of self.

The most important thing to remember is that it is the ‘experience’ of the child. As a child, you are not able to consent in any way, shape or form.

Who is involved?

Sexual abuse happens in all social classes, regardless of gender or age.

Most sexual abuse happens with someone the person knows well and the abuser may be a member of the family or someone in a position of trust.

Sexual abuse can happen once, a few times or go on for many years and victims can be abused by more than one person. Sexual abusers may offer rewards to the person they are abusing.

The abuser may be of any gender.

How can sexual abuse affect people?

Sexual abuse can affect all areas of adult life including serious mental health issues and it can also affect physical health. Relationships with others may also suffer.

Self-harm is when somebody intentionally damages or injures their body as a way of coping with or expressing overwhelming feelings, memories or experiences. While self-harm may make some people feel better and more able to cope in the short-term it can also raise complex and uncomfortable feelings (such as guilt or shame) that may make the person feel worse in the long term. It may also lead to serious injury, illness or death.

To learn more about self-harm, and for a link to a support organisation, click here.