Articles about “Caring for Yourself”
101 Phrases of praise
For Family & Friends, Teachers, Workers
A page filled with positive phrases and words.
Bush fires and trauma
For Family & Friends, Female Survivors, Male Survivors, Teachers, Workers, Young People
This page has resources for individuals affected by bush fires, for professionals working with people affected by bush fire and for those who want to donate or volunteer. There are also resources for helping animals and wildlife affected by bush fires.
Caring for yourself
For Workers
Working with survivors of sexual assault is stressful. As 'trauma' workers you are exposed to a range of traumatic events. This resource discusses the personal impact of Secondary Traumatic Stress, prevention of STS at home and at work and worker burnout.
Coping with flashbacks
For Female Survivors, Male Survivors, Young People
A flashback is a dissociated memory that returns to consciousness. It might be a smell, a taste, a sound, an image, an emotion, or a combination of these things. It might last a moment or linger on for weeks.
Counselling for partners
For Family & Friends
The importance of counselling for partners in a relationship with someone who is dealing with the effects of childhood sexual abuse cannot be emphasized enough. For most people, counselling is often misunderstood and feared by those who have neither needed it or are aware of its function or many benefits.
Counselling information for women
For Female Survivors, Workers
This booklet has some basic information about counselling and your rights. It covers issues such as types of counselling, questions to ask the counsellor, common issues, confidentiality and complaints.
Dance therapy
For Female Survivors, Male Survivors, Workers
This report is about an eight week trial program introducing dance therapy to a group of young women who were survivors of sexual assault.
Dental issues: A guide to positive dental experiences
For Female Survivors, Male Survivors
Although some victim/survivors have no difficulties with attending the dentist, others report that they don't attend because they find it traumatic:
Feeling safer
For Female Survivors, Male Survivors, Young People
If you are a survivor of sexual or physical assault you might experience fear and anxiety around issues of safety. This is a normal and appropriate response to what has happened to you. Talking about these fears and worries with your counsellor, friends and family will help you deal with...
Getting the most from counselling
For Female Survivors, Male Survivors, Young People
When you are on a healing journey, it will be more beneficial if you and your traveling companion (your counsellor) have a good working relationship. Remember, it's your journey not theirs. Before you ring an agency to ask to see a counsellor, think briefly about any criterion you may have.
How family & friends can help
For Family & Friends, Female Survivors, Male Survivors
After a sexual assault, the victim needs to Get medical attention Know it wasn't their fault. Feel safe Take control of their life. Be believed. Things you can do to help Listen, don't judge - Try to simply understand their feelings.
Interactive online peer support and counselling options
For Female Survivors, Male Survivors, Workers
A resource sheet with links to online support options in Australia and overseas.
Naturopathy and sexual assault
For Female Survivors, Male Survivors
An overview fact sheet about how Naturopathy aims to treat an individual in a wholistic encompassing manner.
Nightmares
For Female Survivors, Male Survivors
Most people have dreams when they sleep, although they may not always remember them when they wake. Dreams are usually related to things that have happened during the day or in recent times. They are the subconscious minds way of making sense of events that have already occurred.
Online peer support and counselling options for victim/survivors of sexual assault
For Female Survivors, Male Survivors
In 2011 Michi Forgan and Avrille Burrows, RMIT final year Social Work students, researched and produced information sheets about online oprtions for both peer support and counselling of victim/survivors of sexual assault.
Professional services
For Workers
An introductory 3.5 hour workshop about sexual assault designed for professional or community groups. This workshop is a prerequisite for professionals who wish to enrol for the further SECASA workshop: "Working With Clients Who Have Been Sexually Assaulted".
Should I have counselling or not?
For Male Survivors
There are many social pressures on men to not seek help when they need it. Often men grow up believing that they have to ''tough out'' pain and worries, in order to prove their manliness. Many men have suffered a great deal by minimising their needs and denying their problems...
Should I have counselling too?
For Family & Friends
Counselling for parents can be very helpful. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your own responses to your child's sexual assault it may be a good idea to find someone to talk to. You have also experienced significant trauma which may be easier to cope with if you have counselling.
Surviving Christmas
For Female Survivors, Male Survivors, Young People
For many Christmas can be a difficult time. Suddenly being surrounded by family can bring back old memories or exacerbate complicated situations. If you think you may find the festive season hard then now is the time to do some planning to help you through it.
Survivor's survival guide
For Female Survivors, Male Survivors
Counselling can be helpful particularly if you are experiencing ongoing impacts. Some people develop anxiety, depression or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after being sexually assaulted, and the symptoms can be experienced months or years after the event. Some of these symptoms and impacts, and ways to cope, are covered.