The Nightingale Safe Room
This peer support group offers a safe, non-judgmental space where you can openly share your thoughts and experiences. It’s here for you, not him – because you matter. Connecting with others who understand can bring reassurance, shared understanding, and helpful insights.
BENEFITS OF PEER SUPPORT
- Feel understood and help others feel the same
- Share and receive emotional and practical support
- Learn new ways to manage your wellbeing
- Build confidence, hope, and resilience
- Be part of a supportive community
Advocacy Support
One-to-one support is available to help you with practical needs tailored to your situation. This can include guidance with housing, healthcare, finances, safety planning, and accessing other services.
SUPPORT INCLUDES
- A needs assessment
- A personalised support plan
- Help accessing healthcare and relevant services
- Referrals to specialist organisations
- Safety planning
- Ongoing support and regular check-ins
Therapy
We recognise that the impact of sexual violence and abuse often extends beyond the survivor themselves, affecting partners, family members, friends and other loved ones. Our trauma-informed therapy offer for loved ones provides a safe and supportive space to process the emotional impact of supporting someone through trauma, including experiences of vicarious trauma, helplessness, anxiety, grief or burnout. The work aims to support the wellbeing of the loved one and to help them feel more emotionally resourced, informed and able to support the male survivor in their life in a way that is sustainable and compassionate
RELATIONSHIP THERAPY
This is a structured, evidence-based approach for two people, specifically a male survivor and their loved one, where depression is affecting the relationship, often linked to trauma. It helps you both understand how depression impacts each of you, improve communication, and rebuild emotional connection.
Sessions provide a safe, confidential space for the male survivor and their loved one to explore challenges together and develop healthier ways of relating to each other.
SUPPORTING HIM
There is no single “right” way to support a survivor. Everyone processes trauma differently and will share in their own time. The guidance below can help you support him while also caring for yourself.
LISTEN TO HIM
A disclosure can feel overwhelming, and you may have questions, but let him speak at his own pace. He may have delayed telling you due to fear, shame, confusion, or to protect you. What matters most is that he trusts you—listening without pressure supports his healing.
BELIEVE HIM
It can be hard to accept someone you care about has been harmed, but it’s essential he feels believed. Avoid seeking alternative explanations—let him know you are open to hearing whatever he chooses to share.
SUPPORT HIM
Avoid questions that suggest blame—he is not responsible; the perpetrator is. While you may want him to report the abuse or seek help, these decisions must be his. After losing control, reclaiming it is key.
REASSURE HIM
Let him know you are there and that he can talk when ready. His openness may change over time—this is normal, as healing isn’t linear. If you feel anger, make clear it’s directed at what happened, not at him.
BE KIND TO YOURSELF
Supporting someone can be emotionally demanding, and feelings like anger, guilt, shock, or helplessness are common. You may experience vicarious trauma. Looking after your own wellbeing helps you support him— and you deserve support too.
