SARSAS works across the Bristol, Bath and Somerset area supporting people who have experienced sexual violence. Our specialist services help survivors of rape and sexual abuse recover from their experience, whenever it happened in their life: recently, historically and even in childhood. The consequences can be utterly devastating and in the worst cases, without support, they can last a lifetime.

Zoe (not her real name) was in her early twenties when her GP suggested she get help from SARSAS as she has become depressed and anxious after dropping out of uni halfway through her studies. Zoe was able to tell her GP what had happened on a night with some friends, one of whom offered her a lift home and raped her in the car.

Once at SARSAS Zoe was able to explore her reactions and responses to the rape that she blamed herself for what happened, the shame and guilt she felt, how she couldnt tell anyone and how it felt like her life had stopped - just as it was getting started.

Over the months that followed, Zoe learned to place the blame where it belonged with the man who had assaulted her. She was not responsible. Zoe was able to finally express all the feelings and fears that had been her companions ever since. The counsellor helped her find coping strategies for the flashbacks and nightmares shed been having, so in time she was able to sleep through the night and feel rested in the morning. Her anxieties lessened, she felt brighter and Zoe began to rebuild her life.

Nothing can ever undo sexual violence, but SARSAS can help enormously in the recovery process so that all victim survivors can reclaim their lives.