What is Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is a relative cultural term used to describe sexual relations and behavior between two or more parties which are considered criminally and/or morally offensive. Differ...

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I know that my life is a mess. I know that a lot of it revolves around my past abuse. My question is this:

Everyone tells me I need to get into therapy. But what do you do when you can't afford therapy?
Posted on 11/01/09, 11:11 am
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Reply #1 - 11/01/09  12:34pm
" JustCarmen:

Look for women's centers where therapy is often offered on a sliding scale.

If you have no money at all, find and join a 12-Step group for incest/sexual abuse survivors. Try Survivors of Incest Anonymous, or Sexual Assault Recovery Anonymous or Incest Survivors Anonymous or Adult Survivors of Child Abuse.

Adult Survivors of Child Abuse is an international group that offers mutual support for adult survivors of physical, sexual and/or emotional child abuse or neglect. They encourage victims to become survivors, then thrivers. They have online support group meetings, phone meetings, monthly newsletter, group starter manuals and general information. You can find their website at: http://www.ascasupport.org.

Also check out VOICES which is a national network for incest survivors that offers literature, conferences, etc. They may be able to give you more leads on finding an affordable therapist or help you heal in other ways.

Take a trip to your local library and check out The Courage to Heal by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis, or if you are just starting your healing journey you may find Beginning to Heal by Bass/Davis an easier read. If they don't have these book ask to get them thru inter-library loan or ask the library to order them.

Laura Davis has also written The Courage to Heal workbook that you may find helpful. There are many resources to heal. You just have to hunt them down.

As soon as you can afford to, however, try to find a therapist -- a good therapist is worth their weight in gold. When you are ready to do that go to www.Sidran.org and read their guidelines for finding a good therapist.

When you can afford it, you'll also want to include bodywork in your healing journey. Trauma Touch Therapy is a safe and gentle type of bodywork--though it's hard to find trained bodyworkers who do this particular type of bodywork, keep it in mind.

There are also online resources that you can find by going to Google and typing in sexual abuse survivors. Pandora's Aquarium can be found online. They provide support, education and resources to survivors. They have an online support group (much like this) but also offer a lending library free of charge. Check them out at http://www.pandorasaquarium.org

You are going to have to chase your healing Just Carmen, but it is worth every minute you spend doing it.

xx
SuzA "

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