I work / volunteer at a charity that provides therapy and support for M & F survivors of CSA.
https://www.axis-counselling.co.uk/
I first went there as a client sometime around the summer of 1998. When I 'finished' my therapy the receptionist who worked during the evening session was leaving and I said I'd stand in for a while, I'm still there.
Since then I've also done training as a counsellor, and I now provide Client Support - not full counselling or therapy just yet.
There is often a feeling amongst survivors that "we need to help others" - and there's nothing wrong with that at all, most people in the helping community got there because they know how valuable good help is, they've been there.
But, and there's always a 'but'in these things, we do need to be grounded ourselves, and be VERY aware that we can be easily triggered.
When that happens we have to deal with it, and not on our own. Just because we might feel grounded and recovered it's not the case that we can deal with our triggers on our own, we might have a greater tolerance towards them, but they still affect us.
When that happens we have to go with what works, which is what worked for us in the first place - sharing our feelings through therapy again.
It's an ongoing thing that we shouldn't make the mistake of thinking we can tough out.
Answering the 'phone to someone who's crying and distressed is stressful, dealing with a client who's so frightened of their first session they are shaking with fear is stressful. You don't have to be in the therapists chair to experience these things.
Tonight one of our long term clients didn't show, and she didn't answer her phone. 5 hours later I'm still worrying about her.
It's VERY rewarding, and most organisations are crying out for help. But please think carefully, and never be afraid to tell someone if you're feeling triggered.
Do it, but do it right.
Take care
Dave
