THRIVE
Therapeutic
Healing
Resilience
Inclusivity
Values
Empowerment
To thrive in life may seem like a distant dream to those recovering from childhood sexual abuse, sexual violence or rape, but we are here to give opportunities to men and women who may not have previously thought this possible…
In our upcoming project THRIVE, we are linking up with local teachers and artists, professionals and enthusiasts, to bring you a range of experiences: classes, arts and crafts, taster sessions, training and opportunities.
In this exciting new project that we are developing, we will be working with Friends of SAND and encouraging a community of therapists, holistic practitioners, yogis, and health coaches to join SAND and offer their services. This will be accessible to all.
We welcome and encourage input from you, to bring your own talents and creativity, ideas, and suggestions to help us grow this incredible new aspect of SAND…
Therapeutic
The first thing you will do with a therapist is establish trust and safety. That will lay the groundwork for everything going forward. If you don’t feel as though you gel with your therapist, you are welcome and encouraged to try working with another of our team.
Your first therapy session will begin with an assessment of your needs. You don’t have to go into the sensitive details of what happened at this point, but your therapist may want to get a sense of how you’re currently coping if you have any history of mental health conditions, and who or what you go to for support. Through these conversations, one of our trusted counsellors will listen closely to validate you and determine what type of therapy will be most effective for you individually.
Healing
Your abuse does not define the rest of your life. You can know this in your head, but to know it in your body is a completely different experience.
People who experience sexual assault often internalise their fear and trauma so they continue to feel unsafe in their skin. They might grapple with flashbacks and nightmares. They might avoid triggering places or situations or have difficulty trusting others.
First and foremost, healing from sexual violence begins with making sure you are safely distanced from any further harm and you have access to the medical and criminal justice resources you need. Then the real work begins: emotional healing.
Resilience
Perhaps the idea of therapy doesn’t appeal to you. Understandably, the idea of having to dig up and relive your trauma is uncomfortable. Maybe you feel like you’re fine, and that the trauma will just go away in its own time. The recovery process takes strength: yes, it will be uncomfortable, and it won’t be easy. But we encourage resilience, to help you take the steps in your own life to return to the confidence you once had, to enjoy the things you always used to, to take control of the negative beliefs that trauma embeds in your psyche, and to reject the behaviours that hold those beliefs in place.
Inclusivity
One of the best ways to recover from trauma can be through telling your story. We encourage our peer support groups to share their thoughts, and whilst everyone’s story is different, you might find that by listening to others in their process of overcoming abuse, you find some words that help you feel understood, or perhaps that help you understand your own feelings.
Values
At SAND, we believe that overcoming abuse is not just about surviving, but about thriving. This core value is reflected in our therapeutic approach. While we use staple techniques like EMDR, DBT, and CBT, our team goes beyond these methods, incorporating creative and personalised skills to meet each individual’s unique needs.
Empowerment
We empower you to proceed at your own pace. SAND will accompany you with sensitivity through the building blocks of the recovery process, and when you are in a position to thrive again we will meet you with creativity and empowerment to help guide you towards a path that can help you reclaim your life.
Please check in with our progress…