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Is there any one-on-one support or group of survivors available to speak with? I have been searching for so long to speak to someone about my experience.
Answer by Dr. Laura
PhD Mental Health Nurse & Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
Finding support after experiencing sexual violence is incredibly important, and your desire to connect with others who understand is completely natural. Many survivors find that speaking with others who have had similar experiences can reduce feelings of isolation and provide validation.
There are several types of support available to you. Organizations like RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) operate the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE) which offers confidential, 24/7 support and can connect you with local resources. Many communities have sexual assault resource centers that provide both individual counseling and survivor support groups facilitated by trained professionals.
Outside of RAINN, The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) maintains an extensive directory of online communities specifically for survivors seeking support. On this resource list, there are numerous options available to connect with others. This comprehensive directory organizes resources by category, including peer support, military service members and veterans, male survivors, culturally specific online support, and support for partners of sexual abuse survivors.
Many of these organizations offer different formats for connection—from structured support groups to informal chat rooms, from one-on-one counseling to moderated forums—giving you options to find the type of support that feels most comfortable for you.
Remember that reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness. Many survivors report that connecting with others who understand their experiences provides not only validation but also practical coping strategies and hope. While the first step of reaching out can feel overwhelming, these organizations are specifically designed to create safe, welcoming spaces for survivors at all stages of healing.
Take your time exploring these options to find what resonates most with you. Whether you prefer one-on-one support, group settings, or simply reading others' stories, there are resources available to meet your needs. Your experience matters, and there are communities ready to listen when you're ready to connect. Thank you for trusting us with this. You are not alone.
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Grounding activity
Find a comfortable place to sit. Gently close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths - in through your nose (count to 3), out through your mouth (count of 3). Now open your eyes and look around you. Name the following out loud:
5 – things you can see (you can look within the room and out of the window)
4 – things you can feel (what is in front of you that you can touch?)
3 – things you can hear
2 – things you can smell
1 – thing you like about yourself.
Take a deep breath to end.
From where you are sitting, look around for things that have a texture or are nice or interesting to look at.
Hold an object in your hand and bring your full focus to it. Look at where shadows fall on parts of it or maybe where there are shapes that form within the object. Feel how heavy or light it is in your hand and what the surface texture feels like under your fingers (This can also be done with a pet if you have one).
Take a deep breath to end.
Ask yourself the following questions and answer them out loud:
1. Where am I?
2. What day of the week is today?
3. What is today’s date?
4. What is the current month?
5. What is the current year?
6. How old am I?
7. What season is it?
Take a deep breath to end.
Put your right hand palm down on your left shoulder. Put your left hand palm down on your right shoulder. Choose a sentence that will strengthen you. For example: “I am powerful.” Say the sentence out loud first and pat your right hand on your left shoulder, then your left hand on your right shoulder.
Alternate the patting. Do ten pats altogether, five on each side, each time repeating your sentences aloud.
Take a deep breath to end.
Cross your arms in front of you and draw them towards your chest. With your right hand, hold your left upper arm. With your left hand, hold your right upper arm. Squeeze gently, and pull your arms inwards. Hold the squeeze for a little while, finding the right amount of squeeze for you in this moment. Hold the tension and release. Then squeeze for a little while again and release. Stay like that for a moment.
Take a deep breath to end.