We are so grateful to Heathrow Community Trust for co-funding our Women’s Survivors Group Courses in 2027. These courses offer women who have experienced sexual abuse the opportunity to access information about recovery, connect with other survivors and share experiences of their healing journeys. By bringing women together in a […]
Finding gentle ways to care for yourself after sexual abuse Sexual abuse can affect the way we feel about our bodies, our sense of safety and our relationship with ourselves. Finding ways to feel comfortable in our bodies again can take time, and this will look different for everyone. A […]
One of the most painful aspects of abuse during childhood is the sense of powerlessness a child or young person may experience, alongside the assault on their dignity and sense of self. A child may feel powerless because they cannot change their family circumstances, cannot stop the abuse from happening, […]
Into the Light is holding an online workshop for survivors of sexual abuse and their supporters. It will be looking at: Shame, Thinking Patterns, Memories, Pleasure, Sexuality and Healing. It is a friendly and hopeful atmosphere..with lots of handouts and the opportunity to connect with others. It will take place […]
Sadly, many Survivors of Sexual Abuse carry huge amounts of shame because they have been abused. Often, this is because Survivors can internally carry the shame that does not belong to them but to the abuser. Carrying The Shame For Someone Else Survivors can sometimes carry feelings of shame and […]
For someone who has experienced rape or sexual violence, waiting for a case to reach court can be another difficult part of an already painful experience. This week, the Prime Minister announced plans to introduce specialist courtrooms for rape and serious sexual offences across England and Wales. The aim is […]
Facing the realisation that we have been sexually abused is very often extremely difficult to acknowledge even to ourselves and so we can enter into denial about it. It is a way of protecting ourselves but in the long term this may not be healthy as we are avoiding the […]
This is on the 23rd September. The aim is to encourage a more open and mature public conversation about childhood sexual abuse, challenge the stigma and misplaced shame experienced by victims and survivors, and help create an environment in which those who want to speak encounter fewer barriers to doing […]
People who were sexually abused as children and later sought help for mental health problems have been failed by the NHS, according to senior psychiatrists. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has issued a public apology for decades of what it describes as mismanagement and misdiagnosis. The apology has been included […]
Here is some info for you…….. Let’s Believe Survivors: A Workshop Of Information, Support And Hope For Survivors of Sexual Abuse And Their Supporters Looking At: Shame, Thinking Patterns, Memories, Pleasure, Sexuality and Healing Date: Saturday 14th November 2026 Time: 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm Venue: This workshop will be […]
This week we read about how a buried abuse memory brought a Sisters’ abuser to justice. Sisters Nikita Dallison and Mellissa Arkwright were just six and seven years old when they began to be abused by their half-brother Adrian Austin. But while Nikita, 36, can remember the harrowing details vividly, […]
Learning to trust after experiencing sexual abuse or sexual violence is a long road. Starting with small steps will bring confidence that leads onto more major changes in relationships. The way out of isolation is to communicate in relationships – find out what others are really thinking – not what […]
Having a Stressful Summer? Here are some ways to feel calmer and support your nervous system from Emmylou Seaman a Trauma Therapist in America. #SelfCare#SelfCareJourney#HealingJourney #RestAndRecover#MentalHealth#MentalWellbeing #EmotionalHealing #TraumaHealing #HealingAfterTrauma #TraumaRecovery #Resilience #RecoveryJourney
Do you need some self care for yourself right now? We have some great support and help for you over on our Into The Light website Have a look at our Self care page we have lots of ideas on: And much more,……click on for more information…. #SelfCare#SelfCareJourney#HealingJourney #RestAndRecover#MentalHealth#MentalWellbeing #EmotionalHealing […]
As the world comes together to celebrate the excitement of the World Cup, let’s also remember those whose homes are not places of safety. Behind closed doors, many adults (especially women) and children live with the fear of domestic abuse. Sport has the power to unite, inspire, and start conversations—but […]
Feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything going on – in yourself and in the world too? Its totally understandable – so lets take a moment and breath. There is a very simple technique that is easy to learn and have at our fingertips when we need it called “BOX BREATHING”. […]
This week Keir Starmer the Prime Minister met with Survivors of abuse by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed to push for greater accountability for what they describe as “decades of institutional rape and sexual abuse”. Survivor groups said they hope the meeting with Keir Starmer will be a “landmark […]
Creating a toolbox which can help boost your mood whenever you find yourself feeling low can be really helpful: Make lists of things you like about yourself, successes, things you are grateful for, good experiences and compliments. Come up with a list of things that you can do for a […]
This week we came to the end of another of our Into The Light Women Survivors Group Psycho-Educational Courses. It was such a privilege to share the journey of ten weeks with nine amazing Women Survivors. We got some lovely feedback at the end of the course including: “This course […]
Facing the realisation that we have been sexually abused is very often extremely difficult to acknowledge even to ourselves and so we can enter into denial about it. It is a way of protecting ourselves but in the long term this may not be healthy as we are avoiding the […]
“Early on we begin our storehouse of anger, finding places inside to tuck it away and hide it” (Source: Parks Inner Child Therapy – Penny Parks – Souvenir Press Published 1994 page128) For some of us anger is a tricky topic – we might think we are not angry – […]
Tomorrow Saturday 25th April is our Into The Light Workshop – this one is called “Lets Believe Survivors” We are so excited to welcome new friends and old to this space where we are planning on offering information, support and hope. We have been running these workshops since 2008!! We […]