Counselling for Rape Victims

Rape and sexual assault is a physically and psychologically traumatising crime committed against both male and female victims and the effects of such a crime can have a devastating psychological impact on the lives of not only the victim but also family and friends of the victim.

Who Can Counselling for Rape Help?

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you could benefit from our counselling services to support you to recover and move forward with your life in a positive way. The thought of discussing your experiences may feel unbearable but evidence suggests that counselling can significantly improve your chances of a full recovery from your trauma.

More information about Rape and Sexual Assault

It is estimated that 85,000 women and 12,000 men are raped in England and Wales alone every year; roughly 11 adult rapes an hour.
Nearly half a million adults are sexually assaulted in England and Wales each year.
1 in 5 women aged 16 – 59 has experienced some form of sexual violence.
Only about 15% of those who experience sexual violence report it to the police.
Approximately 90% of those who are raped know the perpetrator.

From An Overview of Sexual Offending in England and Wales, The Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Home Office (2013).

“I cannot comment positively enough on the psychologist that I saw at The British CBT & Counselling Service. She provided a structured yet flexible framework for discussing my issues. She was insightful and at times necessarily firm and challenging which was exactly the sort of counsellor I had hoped to be paired with. I do not know if this is her natural style or she was perceptive enough to realise that such an approach would suit my personality. But either way, I was delighted to discover she wasn’t just full platitudes. I found her to be helpful, a great listener, perceptive and broad minded. She was able to draw accurate insights into my troubles and pinpoint key issues which were manifesting themselves in a number of ways in many areas of my life. She was able to direct me to helpful books and teach me key skills for overcoming problems. I would very highly recommend The British CBT & Counselling Service to anyone seeking help.”

SOPHIE, Richmond

What Does Counselling for Rape Victims Involve?

STEP 1
To begin your treatment, one of our Therapists will begin by asking you about yourself and life before the rape or sexual assault to give them a context for your experiences and ensure that the approach that they prescribed is tailored to your individual needs and personality. This will also give you time to get to know your Therapist and feel comfortable in their company.

STEP 2
Your Therapist will then talk to you about your rape or sexual abuse and its impact on you and your life at a level of detail that you feel comfortable. You will not be asked to provide details that you are not comfortable sharing.

STEP 3
Your Therapist will then teach you the skills you need to reduce your emotional distress and process your experiences in a way that allows them to gradually move into the background of your memory and the pain associated with them to soften.

STEP 4
Finally, you will then work together to repair any damage done to your self-esteem and confidence and re-engage with your life and relationships.