If you know someone who has experienced sexual abuse, rape or sexual assault, you may not know how best to help them. You may have strong feelings of helplessness, confusion, shock and anger. It can help to talk to someone, in confidence, about your feelings and concerns.
KASA provides Support Counselling for non-abusing relatives or friends affected by sexual abuse.
Counselling is free, one to one and completely confidential. Counselling can be long term or short term. Counselling is provided by a different Counsellor than the one a Survivor may be attending.
Contact our private Helpline now in complete confidence
1800 478 478
What to do if you are approached for help by someone who has experienced sexual violence?- Click Here
Listen to them
Believe them
Don’t give advice or a list of solutions
Don’t judge them
Don’t tell them what you would have done
Don’t ask them why they didn’t do something, for example, scream or fight back
Don’t suggest it wasn’t a real rape or sexual attack, if there was no physical abuse
Don’t ask if they led their abuser on
Don’t insist they talk to a professional or report it to the Gardai
Do tell them it was not their fault.
Do assure them they have rights and choices
Do ask them what THEY want to do
Do offer practical help
Do give information, for example, relevant phone numbers
Do encourage them to seek professional help
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