Support for professionals

If you are a professional and supporting someone you may have guidance within your workplace about supporting survivors. Support and supervision is important at this time. Should you not have access to this, we suggest that you speak to your line manager and request enhanced support.

Workers from external agencies can contact us to speak with a support worker. We do not need to know any personal details but you may wish to talk through the issues you are currently supporting someone with get some information about resources which may be helpful.

I’ve had many people disclose sexual abuse in my career. But one disclosure in particular really affected me. I couldn’t get it out of my head, I found myself thinking about it often and realised that I needed to talk it through with someone who could understand. RASAC was there for me. I spoke about how the disclosure affected me, without breaching confidentiality of my client, and by the end of a couple of session felt I could move forward positively.

We also recognise that professionals often need a space to talk about their own feelings. Workers often worry about saying the wrong thing, or not knowing enough about other support available. When supporting someone who has experienced rape, sexual abuse or exploitation it is very important that you also take care of yourself. Sometimes when supporting someone a ‘story’ can get stuck in your head and affect you unexpectedly and can develop into secondary or vicarious trauma so self-care is important.

Should you want to speak to a support worker in confidence please contact us.

Helpline: 01738 626290; Mondays 10-12noon, Wednesdays 12 noon – 2pm, Fridays 2pm – 4pm

Business Line: 01738 630965; Mondays-Friday, 9pm – 4pm

Alternatively you can access:

National Rape Crisis Helpline; 08088 01 03 02; every evening 6pm – midnight

To refer yourself to our therapeutic service download a referral form here.