Childhood sexual abuse does not necessarily end when the abuse stops. Its impact can continue long into adulthood, affecting relationships, trust, emotional wellbeing and how survivors see themselves and the world around them.
Raising awareness of these long-term effects is an important part of One in Four’s work. That is why we recently contributed a feature to London Globe, exploring what the impact of childhood sexual abuse can look like in adulthood and, importantly, why specialist support can make such a difference.
The article highlights several messages that are central to our approach at One in Four.
Firstly, every survivor’s experience is different. There is no single response to childhood trauma and no predetermined path towards recovery.
Secondly, recovery cannot be rushed. For someone whose trust was profoundly affected during childhood, developing a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship can take time. This is why One in Four provides specialist, long-term counselling, giving survivors the consistency and space to work at a pace that is right for them.
And finally, we want conversations about childhood sexual abuse to include hope. While we must acknowledge the harm abuse can cause, survivors should never be defined solely by what happened to them. With the right support, healing and recovery are possible.
By contributing to publications such as London Globe, we hope to increase public understanding of childhood sexual abuse, challenge the silence that can surround it and help more people recognise the importance of specialist support for survivors.
Read the full London Globe feature: “Childhood sexual abuse doesn’t end in childhood: why survivors need specialist support.”
