Welcome to the February content campaign supporting our counselling clients. This month, we are talking about sexual abuse recovery. Here are our short tips:
1. You deserve safety, choice and respect in every space – online and offline
Recovery from sexual abuse starts with one simple truth: you deserve safety, choice and respect in every space – online and offline. It’s okay if trust feels hard right now. Small moments of safety (a quiet room, a supportive message, a grounding breath) are already part of healing. You do not have to rush your recovery; your pace is valid.
2. Sexual abuse is the responsibility of the person who chose to harm
Sexual abuse is always the responsibility of the person who chose to harm, never the survivor. No outfit, message, photo, or past relationship justifies abuse – online or in person. Many survivors carry guilt and shame that do not belong to them; starting to name this can be a powerful step in reclaiming your story.
3. Your trauma responses are valid
Trauma from sexual abuse can show up in many ways: nightmares, feeling ‘on alert’, trouble trusting, or going numb. Online spaces can add extra triggers through unexpected messages, news or images. If this sounds familiar, it doesn’t mean you are ‘broken’ – these are understandable responses to something that should never have happened.
4. Micro-moments of grounding
Recovery is not made of huge breakthroughs alone; it’s built from micro-moments of grounding throughout the day. A few ideas: feel your feet on the floor, notice five things you can see, mute one triggering account, or step away from your screen for 3 minutes and go outside to feel the sun on your face. These small acts help your nervous system remember that the present can be safer than the past.
5. Boundaries are a sign of empowerment
Saying ‘no’, blocking, muting, or leaving a conversation – online or offline – are all valid boundary choices. After sexual abuse, boundaries can feel confusing, especially if your ‘no’ was ignored in the past. Learning to notice your limits and act on them is a powerful form of empowerment and self-respect.
6. Support is allowed and needed
You should never have to go through recovery alone. Options might include one-to-one counselling, group support, online programmes, or specialist sexual violence services. The right support should feel collaborative, non-judgmental and paced around your choices, not pressure. If it feels safe, consider reaching out for trusted help.
7. Your digital wellbeing after abuse matters too
Many survivors experience sexual abuse or harassment in digital spaces too – through messages, images or coercive control. Digital wellbeing means shaping your online life around your safety and values: blocking harmful accounts, curating your feed, and setting time or content limits. You are allowed to make the internet smaller, quieter and kinder while you heal.
8. You are in charge of your recovery
Recovery from sexual abuse is not about ‘getting over it’; it can be about slowly growing around what happened and rediscovering your strengths. Many survivors notice deeper self-compassion, clearer boundaries, and more meaningful relationships over time. This is called post-traumatic growth – and it happens at your own rhythm, not on anyone else’s timeline.
9. We are here for you
If this series has resonated with your own experiences of sexual abuse or online harm, you might be wondering what support could look like for you. At Voxel Hub, counselling and coaching are grounded in liberation, safety, and digital wellbeing, with flexible online and in-person options. You’re welcome to explore a free, no-pressure consultation to see if it feels like a good fit for your next step. Book it here.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
AI Disclaimer: We have used Perplexity AI to co-create parts of this content.
