Rape and Sexual Assault

A sexual assault is any sexual act that a person did not consent to, was coerced into or was forced into against their will. It is a form of sexual violence and includes rape (an assault involving penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth), or other sexual offences, such as groping, forced kissing, child sexual abuse or the torture of a person in a sexual manner.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales for the year ending March 2018 showed that police recorded 150,732 sexual offences, encompassing rape (53,977 cases) and sexual assault, and also sexual activity with children.

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People who experiences rape or sexual assault can react in different ways.  There is no right or wrong way and you may feel some or all of the following symptoms:

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Numb – you may feel numb to what has happened or have an unexpected reaction to it, as you try to process what has happened.

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Shame – you may feel shame, even though it was not your fault. 
 

Guilt – you may also have feelings of guilt, thinking of reasons why this was your fault, even when there are no reasons and was not your fault.
 

Depressed and anxious - you may have feelings of depression and be anxious about doing things which previously you used to do.  These feelings can make a massive impact on your life for a very long time and can affect how you interact in future relationships.
 

Change of Sexual attitude & behaviour – the pain that resides in you following sexual assault can influence your thoughts towards sex causing an increase or avoidance of sex or intimate relationships.

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PTSD, (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) - this can develop after a traumatic experience such as sexual assault.

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How can counselling help me?

Counselling offers you a safe, non-judgemental place to discuss your feelings from traumatic events such as rape and sexual assault. It can help process emotions, even if they occurred many years ago.

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