You might not know what to say, what to do, or how to respond But your presence—your care, compassion, and willingness to listen—can be a powerful part of their healing process There’s no perfect script for this kind of conversation But there are proven ways to show up for. Learn how to respond to disclosures of sexual assault or domestic violence, emphasizing supportive actions that promote healing and strengthen relationships with survivors. Acknowledge the courage it took for them to open up about their experience and encourage them to only share what they feel comfortable with
In the long term, check in regularly to see how they are doing The national sexual violence resource center emphasizes a few things not to do when responding to disclosure. It can be difficult to know what to do if someone discloses to you that they’ve been the victim of a sexual assault But you can be there for someone you know, even if you are not sure exactly what to say. What to say to someone who has been sexually assaulted A guide for showing up with empathy april is sexual assault awareness month, a time to honor survivors, raise awareness, and promote safe, respectful communities
Talking to survivors of sexual assault knowing what to say when someone shares they’ve been sexually assaulted isn’t always easy—especially when it’s someone close to you For survivors, opening up to a loved one can be incredibly difficult That’s why your response matters.
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