Some effects of sexual abuse


“It was a relief to know there were reasons for the way I was feeling, because this meant that maybe something could be done about it.”


Sexual abuse has a wide range of different effects. What affects one person can be different to what affects another. Your counsellor will help you to identify the impacts of the abuse and explore strategies to deal with them. Some of our clients have trouble sleeping. They may have nightmares, flashbacks or intrusive memories of the abuse. Other clients have trouble trusting people. Some have difficulties with addictions to alcohol or other drugs. Other clients are parents and are very anxious about protecting their own children from abuse.


These are some of the possible effects you may have experienced.


Difficulty expressing feelings


Some clients tell us that they have ‘numbed’ their feelings about the abuse as a way of coping. Sometimes clients come to counselling because they can no longer deny or disconnect from their feelings. They may be feeling overwhelmed by intense emotions. Coming to counselling may provide them with a safe space in which to acknowledge these emotions. Your counsellor will talk with you about what you have been feeling and are experiencing in the present. They will explore strategies for expressing your emotions in ways that contribute to working through the effects and reshaping your life.


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