Where to Find Help and Healing After Childhood Sexual Abuse

In this episode, Wendy tackles the sensitive, but vital subject of childhood sexual abuse. She explains what this type of abuse does to a person over time and why it is so hard for victims to tell others and seek help. Wendy also shares which therapies are effective, how to reach the point where you feel able to seek help and exactly where to find the right services for you. KEY TAKEAWAYS Often, childhood sexual abuse involves someone the child knows. Grooming, secrecy, fear of not being believed or hurting the family unit all make it difficult for the child to tell anyone, even once they have reached adulthood. Many survivors experience long-term anxiety, PTSD and trust issues. EMDR helps your brain to refile memories so that they are less distressing and therefore less impactful. BEST MOMENTS “Childhood sexual abuse rarely looks like a stranger in a dark alley … unfortunately, more often, the perpetrator is someone the child knows.” “Self-blame is a normal trauma effect. It's proof of non-consent.” “People fear not being believed … They fear the impact on family relationships or actually causing harm to the family household.” RESOURCES Childhood Sexual Abuse — Quick Resource Guide (UK) Immediate help If you’re in immediate danger, call 999. Samaritans (24/7): 116 123 — emotional support any time. Specialist support Rape Crisis England & Wales — 24/7 Support Line: 0808 500 2222; webchat available. SurvivorsUK (for men and non-binary people): search “SurvivorsUK helpline”. Childline (under 19s): 0800 1111. NSPCC (adults worried about a child): 0808 800 5000. Medical & forensic options Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs): available with or without police involvement; provide medical care, forensic options, and ISVA support. Search “Find my nearest SARC” online. Therapy pathways NHS Talking Therapies (England): self-refer; ask about trauma-focused CBT or EMDR if you have PTSD-type symptoms. Ask your GP about local trauma services if you need longer-term or complex trauma support. Self-care tools Grounding: 5-4-3-2-1 senses; paced breathing (in 4, out 6). Micro-boundaries: “Pause”, “Not right now”, “I’m changing my mind”. Trigger plan: identify top triggers and a go-to action (text a friend, step outside, grounding track). Your rights There is no time limit on reporting sexual offences in the UK. Pre-trial therapy is allowed; you do not need to stop therapy during a police case. Note: This guide is not a substitute for medical or legal advice. If you’re in immediate danger, call 999. VALUABLE RESOURCES www.wendycastelino.com https://www.instagram.com/wendycastelino https://www.youtube.com/@wendycastelino798 https://twitter.com/WendyCastelino ABOUT THE HOST Wendy Castelino has been working as a psychotherapist for over thirty-five years. As an accredited CBT and EMDR practitioner, she is committed to upholding the rigorous standards required for these accreditations and helping thousands of people reach their full potential. Wendy currently runs a private practice where her focus is on CBT. Therapy is constantly evolving into developing new techniques, so she studies hard to integrate them into her therapy, to provide a rich and effective experience. Wendy is aware that working in one-to-one therapy limits the number of people she can see. She has, therefore, created a range of online resources. These resources are designed to be easy to follow and provide clear, step-by-step instructions. This can help the individual to master skills and gain confidence, therefore optimising the therapy sessions. They are also suitable to be used on their own. Further details are available at: WendyCastelino.com. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/