Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) casts long shadows, leaving scars that can permeate every facet of a survivor’s life. Among the most deeply affected areas is sexuality—a domain intertwined with identity, intimacy, and trust. Healing from such profound trauma is a complex, non-linear journey, but it is also a testament to human resilience and the possibility of reclaiming joy and wholeness. This blog post aims to shed light on the path toward healing and rediscovering a healthy sense of sexuality after childhood sexual abuse. Understanding the Impact The effects of CSA on an individual’s sexuality are profound and multifaceted. Survivors may experience a range of challenges, including: Shame and Guilt: Feelings of shame and guilt are common, as abusers often manipulate victims into believing they are complicit or at fault. Trust Issues: Trust, especially in intimate relationships, can be profoundly shaken, making it difficult to form and maintain healthy sexual relationships. Dissociation: Survivors might dissociate during sexual activity, disconnecting from their bodies as a coping mechanism. Distorted Self-Image: The trauma can lead to a distorted sense of self-worth and body image, affecting how survivors perceive and engage with their own sexuality. Hypersexuality or Sexual Aversion: Some may respond by becoming hypersexual, seeking validation or control through sex, while others might develop an aversion to sexual activity altogether. The Healing Process Healing from CSA is a deeply personal process that varies widely among survivors. However, some common steps can facilitate the journey toward reclaiming a healthy sense of sexuality: 1. Acknowledgment and Validation The first step is often the hardest: acknowledging the abuse and recognizing its impact. Survivors need to validate their experiences and emotions, understanding that the abuse was not their fault. Seeking support from a trusted friend, therapist, or support group can provide the necessary validation and a safe space to share their story. 2. Professional Therapy Engaging with a therapist who specializes in trauma and sexual abuse can be transformative. Therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Somatic Experiencing can help survivors process trauma, reduce symptoms, and develop healthier coping mechanisms. 3. Reconnecting with the Body Survivors often experience a disconnection from their bodies as a result of the abuse. Reconnecting with the body through practices like yoga, mindfulness, and somatic therapy can help restore a sense of safety and ownership over one’s physical self. These practices encourage present-moment awareness and can be powerful tools in reclaiming bodily autonomy. 4. Establishing Boundaries Learning to establish and assert healthy boundaries is crucial. This includes understanding personal limits, communicating needs, and recognizing that it’s okay to say no. Boundaries are essential for fostering a sense of control and safety in intimate interactions. 5. Exploring Healthy Sexuality Reclaiming sexuality involves exploring and understanding what feels safe and pleasurable. This might include self-exploration, solo sexual activities, or open communication with a partner. It’s about discovering what feels right on an individual level without pressure or judgment. 6. Building Trust and Intimacy Building trust takes time, patience, and effort. In relationships, open communication about fears, triggers, and needs is essential. Partners can support by being patient, understanding, and respectful of boundaries, fostering an environment where the survivor feels safe and valued. 7. Community and Peer Support Groups Joining support groups can provide a sense of community and shared experience. Hearing others’ stories and sharing one’s own can be incredibly validating and can reduce feelings of isolation. Discussions surrounding sexuality are part of The Gatehouse Phase 1 Out of the Darkness Into the Light 15 – week Program. For more information about this program, please click here Moving Forward Healing from CSA is a lifelong journey, marked by gradual progress and the occasional setback. It’s important for survivors to be gentle with themselves, celebrating small victories and seeking support when needed. Healing is not about forgetting the past but about integrating the experience into a narrative of resilience and growth. Sexuality is a fundamental part of being human, and reclaiming it after trauma is a powerful act of self-love and empowerment. Survivors deserve to experience pleasure, intimacy, and connection on their terms. With patience, support, and self-compassion, it is possible to heal and embrace a fulfilling and healthy sense of sexuality.

Transforming Trauma into Triumph: 14th Annual Conference Recap Victims and Survivors of Crime Week is “The Power of Collaboration” On Wednesday, May 15th, 2024, the 14th Annual Transforming Trauma into Triumph Conference took place at Humber College’s Lake Shore Campus. With 71 attendees, the event proved to be a powerful and inspiring gathering dedicated to addressing and understanding childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Event Highlights The conference commenced with registration at 9:00 AM, and the formal program ran from 9:45 AM to 4:00 PM. The participants, who included survivors of childhood sexual abuse, social service professionals, post-secondary students, police officers, and community members, convened in Building L Room 1017 for a day of insightful discussions and knowledge sharing. Key Objectives The conference aimed to: Raise awareness about the impact of childhood sexual abuse and the resilience of survivors. Enhance knowledge of community services available to support CSA survivors. Facilitate the exchange of diverse perspectives on victimization, criminal justice, healing, and recovery. Foster collaboration among psychotherapists, mental health practitioners, and survivors sharing their healing journeys. Why This Event Matters With statistics revealing that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lives, the importance of The Gatehouse’s mission cannot be overstated. This conference highlighted the crucial need for continued support and services for survivors, emphasizing the role of peer support in helping individuals regain their voices and develop positive coping mechanisms to combat anxiety, nightmares, and depression. Esteemed Speakers The conference featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including: Marlee Liss, award-winning speaker and restorative justice advocate Tara MacLean, singer, songwriter, and author Trynelle Thomas, survivor and advocate Irwin Elman, Officer of the Order of Canada and President of Defence For Children Representatives from the Toronto Police Service Sex Crimes Unit Arthur Lockhart, founder of The Gatehouse Kristi White, Rosalia Rivera, and Stewart Thompson from the Survivor Council of Canada Maria Barcelos, MA, Executive Director of The Gatehouse and registered psychotherapist Mafalda Silva, DTATI, RP, art therapist Support and Sponsorship The Gatehouse relies on the generosity of individuals and businesses to fund and expand its programs, which are offered free of charge to those affected by childhood sexual abuse. These programs include child abuse investigations, peer support groups, art therapy, and support for partners and families. This event was generously supported by the Department of Justice Canada Victims and Survivors of Crime Week Funding. About The Gatehouse Since its founding on June 20, 1998, The Gatehouse has been a beacon of hope for CSA survivors. Its mission is to provide support, community, and resources for those impacted by childhood sexual abuse, helping them to heal and reclaim their voices. For more information, please visit The Gatehouse website or contact Maria Barcelos at mbarcelos@thegatehouse.org. Contact Information The Gatehouse Child Abuse Investigation & Support Site 3101 Lake Shore Boulevard West, Toronto, ON, M8V 3W8 Phone: 416.255.5900 Fax: 416.255.7221 Website: www.thegatehouse.org Thank you to all who attended and supported this vital conference. Together, we are transforming trauma into triumph.  

April 4, 2024 – On a night with the weather saying ‘it would be best to stay home’ you did the opposite. You came out to the Gatehouse experience of the premiere of 5 Steps Film on April 4, 2024 at Creeds and with your energy generated a beautiful evening -Thank You. You can now view the full documentary online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBe5jbzKreQ   In a world that seems to be fractured and fracturing more and more, it is people such as you, that continually provide ways that have the power to genuinely transform traumas into triumph.    It is your Intentional kindness that provides the space, the way for people to truly transform their lives-what a wondrous gift you are giving-truly magical. Your presence last evening has a way of reaching people whom you may never ever meet, but because you support The Gatehouse, people will be able to walk up those 5 steps and reclaim their lives. And, in such a magical turn, their courage creates the way for others to engage in moving forward in powerful ways in their own unique journey.   As I was listening to the stories offered in the two films I was reminded of the statement:  “Stories are the reflection of the human soul. They remind us of our potential, of the driving possibilities of our existence.” S. Spencer Everyone in those films-reflecting the power of the human soul. Not a bad event to partake in, on a cold, wet, windy, dark evening.   I am including a little poem that I saw reflected in all the stories on April 4. And I hope you might also want to share a poem on the global poetry movement website www.globalpoetrymovement.com.   Thank all of you for being on the planet. We look forward to seeing you at our next event, the 14th Annual Transforming Trauma Conference taking place on Wednesday, May 15th 9:30am to 4:00pm at Humber College – full details here.   Why Support “5 Steps” Film?  Please share the link far and wide to help us raise awareness of the prevalence, impact and work of The Gatehouse – 5 Steps Film Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBe5jbzKreQ

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often struggle with feelings of shame, which can be deeply ingrained and challenging to overcome. Below are strategies that can help lessen feelings of shame and guilt: Education: Learning about the psychological effects of childhood sexual abuse can help survivors understand that their feelings of shame are common reactions to trauma, not personal failures. Self-Compassion: Practicing self-compassion involves treating oneself with kindness and understanding, rather than self-criticism. This can help survivors counteract feelings of shame with self-acceptance and empathy. Identifying Triggers: Recognizing situations, people, or thoughts that trigger feelings of shame can empower survivors to take proactive steps to avoid or manage these triggers. Setting Boundaries: Establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries in relationships can help survivors protect themselves from situations that contribute to feelings of shame or re-traumatization. Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques: Techniques such as mindfulness meditation or grounding exercises can help survivors stay present in the moment and manage overwhelming feelings of shame or distress. Connecting with Supportive Communities: Engaging with support groups or online communities for survivors of childhood sexual abuse can provide validation, understanding, and encouragement from others who have similar experiences. Creative Expression: Art, writing, music, or other forms of creative expression can offer survivors a way to process and express their feelings of shame in a safe and constructive manner. Self-Care: Engaging in activities that promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being, such as exercise, spending time in nature, or practicing hobbies, can help survivors build resilience and reduce the impact of shame. Challenging Negative Beliefs: Cognitive-behavioral techniques can help survivors identify and challenge negative beliefs about themselves that contribute to feelings of shame, replacing them with more realistic and compassionate self-perceptions. Cognitive-behavioral techniques can be invaluable in helping survivors address and overcome feelings of shame by targeting negative beliefs about themselves. Below are some techniques commonly used in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that can aid in this process: Identifying Negative Beliefs: Survivors can work with a therapist to identify the negative beliefs they hold about themselves that contribute to feelings of shame. These beliefs may be ingrained and automatic, so recognizing them is the first step toward challenging them. Examining Evidence: Once negative beliefs are identified, survivors can examine the evidence that supports or contradicts these beliefs. Often, individuals find that their negative beliefs are based on distorted perceptions or past experiences that are no longer relevant. Challenging Cognitive Distortions: CBT helps survivors recognize and challenge cognitive distortions, such as all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, and catastrophizing. By challenging these distortions, survivors can develop a more balanced and realistic view of themselves. Generating Alternative Thoughts: Survivors can work on generating alternative, more compassionate thoughts to replace their negative beliefs. For example, instead of thinking, “I am worthless,” they might replace that thought with, “I am deserving of love and respect.” Behavioral Experiments: Survivors can conduct behavioral experiments to test the validity of their negative beliefs. For example, if someone believes they are unlovable, they might experiment by reaching out to friends or family members for support and observing the positive responses they receive. Developing Coping Strategies: CBT equips survivors with coping strategies to manage and challenge negative beliefs when they arise. This may include techniques such as mindfulness, relaxation exercises, and self-compassion practices. Reframing Perspectives: Survivors can learn to reframe their experiences in a more positive light. This involves shifting the focus from self-blame and shame to recognizing their strengths, resilience, and capacity for growth. Building Self-Compassion: CBT emphasizes the importance of self-compassion in overcoming shame. Survivors can learn to treat themselves with kindness and understanding, rather than harsh self-judgment. Join The Gatehouse Phase 1 – Out of the Darkness: Into the Light Program today! Click here for more information

Empowering Survivors into Overcoming Shame and Guilt  Written by: Beatriz Cruz, Social Service Worker (Diploma), Previous Practicum Student  Empowerment can be a useful tool in supporting survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse and in overcoming the shame and guilt associated with these experiences. In my experience as a placement student at The Gatehouse I have come across a few participants who mention having a lack of support from others and how this contributes to their internalization of shame and guilt and owning their abuse. Dorahy and Clearwater (2012), refer to shame as how people perceive themselves and how they believe they are perceived by others, and note that shame is associated with hostility and self-deprecating beliefs and reactions of the self. Furthermore, dissociation also plays a role in the regulation or elimination of feelings of shame (Dorahy and Clearwater, 2012).   Guilt, on the other hand, is associated with self-evaluation and arises when an individual believes that they are breaking a social or moral code or violating their own beliefs (Dohary and Clearwater, 2012). Survivors of childhood sexual abuse often believe they are to blame for their experiences, which further allows for feelings of guilt and shame to persist.   This is where empowerment comes in to work on those feelings of shame and form newer and more positive notions of the self. Moreover, empowerment in relation to survivors of childhood sexual abuse refers to the restoration of the individual’s self-control and well-being, and it can come from the individual and/or other supports (Itsaranuwat et al., 2021). Empowerment can come from the self via mindfulness meditation, in which one is able to cognitively reframe past and current experiences by becoming aware of negative and unhelpful thoughts associated with shame and guilt, and practice replacing them with more supportive and empathetic ones (Whitaker, 2017). In addition, part of self-empowerment may include recognizing a need for additional help with these thoughts and feelings and taking an additional step by reaching out to a professional or safe person to confide in.   Empowering a survivor of childhood sexual abuse may look like this:  Showing the survivor that you believe them and what they have experienced  Actively listening to what the survivor has to say with no opinionated commentary  Providing a safe space by acknowledging the survivor’s feelings   Acknowledging their strength and courage in reaching out   Thanking the survivor for confiding in you with their experience  Encouraging decision-making regarding problems that allow survivors to regain their power/reclaim their voice, but ultimately leaving the power to decide and/or choose the course of action to the survivor  (Itsaranuwat et al., 2021)  Lastly, it is important to recognize survivors’ feelings regarding their sense of shame and guilt, however, it may be beneficial to remind them that what they experienced was not their fault. The last time I mentioned to a participant that they were not to blame for their abuse, this individual related back to me that they had not heard that sentence coming from someone else in a very long time and that they experienced a sense of relief upon hearing it. It may not sound like much, but it can mean a lot for survivors who experience self-blame along with shame and guilt.   References  Dorahy, M. J., & Clearwater, K. (2012). Shame and guilt in men exposed to childhood sexual abuse: A qualitative investigation. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 21(2), 155–175. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2012.659803   Itsaranuwat, W., Pathumcharoenwattana, W., & Ua-amnoey, J. (2021). Empowerment to Sexual Assault Survivors: The Role of Family and Trustworthy Person. Psychology and Education Journal, 58(4), 2079–2084. Retrieved from http://psychologyandeducation.net/pae/index.php/pae/article/view/4977/4351.   Whitaker, J. (2020, January 30). How to empower yourself to overcome shame. Mindful Ways to Wellness. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://www.mindfulwaystowellness.com/post/how-to-empower-yourself-to-overcome-shame   

Understanding Shame: How Does Shame Affect Me? Written by: Brooke Byers, Social Service Work Diploma, Previous Practicum Student at The Gatehouse Understanding shame is crucial in understating its impact on individuals who have experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Shame is not just a fleeting emotion; it can deeply infiltrate one’s psyche, influencing various aspects of their life. Firstly, shame can manifest as self-blame, where survivors internalize feelings of responsibility for the abuse they endured. This self-condemnation can be relentless, leading to a persistent sense of guilt and worthlessness. Survivors may struggle with feelings of embarrassment, stemming from their inability to prevent or stop the abuse despite their efforts. This embarrassment can be paralyzing, affecting their ability to trust themselves and others. Low self-esteem often accompanies shame, creating a vicious cycle of negative self-perception. This cycle perpetuates feelings of inferiority, making it challenging for survivors to break free from the grip of shame. Consequently, they may find themselves in situations that reinforce their negative beliefs about themselves, further perpetuating their sense of inadequacy. The toll of shame extends beyond psychological realms, affecting physical health as well. Survivors may suppress their pain as a coping mechanism, leading to exacerbated psychological issues such as PTSD. Moreover, shame has been linked to physical ailments like chronic pelvic discomfort, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia, highlighting the interconnectedness of mind and body. Shame also infiltrates intimate relationships, complicating sexual and interpersonal dynamics. Survivors may associate shame with sexual desire, leading to difficulties in forming healthy sexual relationships. Moreover, shame can hinder their ability to trust and connect with others personally, as they fear judgment and rejection. In relationships, survivors may struggle with disclosing their abuse, fearing how others will perceive them. This fear of judgment can isolate survivors, preventing them from seeking support and understanding from their loved ones. Additionally, survivors may internalize a belief that they deserve unfavorable treatment from others, further perpetuating their sense of unworthiness. In essence, shame resulting from childhood sexual abuse is a pervasive force that infiltrates every aspect of a survivor’s life. Understanding the profound impact of shame is essential in providing support and healing for survivors, as they navigate the complex journey towards reclaiming their sense of self-worth and healing from their trauma. As a CSA survivor, how many of the impacts of shame mentioned above do you feel that you identify with?  References   Home – victim support. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/P2661CSA-survivors-shame.pdf     

Mindfulness Group Sessions in the Healing Garden with Brad Hutchinson Dates: May 21 and 22, 2024 Time: 11am to 1pm Location: In person at The Gatehouse 3101 Lake Shore Blvd W., Toronto, ON, M8V 3W8 Cost: $60 per person. Partial proceeds support The Gatehouse. Reduced rate available for individuals on OW/ODSP. Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeoFTQS1Eh96E1pDooFIA7JXnyW4W0pO7LHDI44SrgY-a–JQ/viewform?usp=sf_link Through various meditation and mindfulness techniques, Brad leads participants on an exploration of their thoughts, emotions, and sensations, encouraging them to embrace the present moment with acceptance and non-judgment. Whether seated in quiet reflection or engaged in mindful movement, each practice fosters a deeper connection to oneself and the world around them. Beyond the individual journey, the group dynamic adds richness to the experience, as shared insights and supportive camaraderie deepen the sense of community and belonging. Together, participants embark on a shared voyage of self-discovery. Questions? Email Brad at brad@stepintothecreative.com

Childhood Sexual Abuse Healing – Emotional Regulation & Practices   Written by: Victoria Kong, Previous Placement Student, The Gatehouse Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can have a wide range of effects in adulthood. Research shows that survivors of childhood sexual abuse can have serious and long-term impacts on their physical and mental health, along with their following sexual adjustment. It is notable that the experience of CSA and the negative emotional impacts can result in damaging a victim’s emotional reactions and self-perceptions.  Under these circumstances, survivors of childhood sexual abuse may experience issues with trust. Affecting an individual’s ability to trust others or to perceive the world as being safe. Possible emotional impacts could include feelings of guilt and shame. In effect, assigning self-blame of which a victim may blame themselves or feel that the abuse was their fault.   Furthermore, CSA survivors can experience low self-esteem, are prone to feelings of anger, and may find themselves engaging in dissociation in which a victim may disconnect from one’s own thoughts, feelings and memories. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse may also act impulsively and are more likely to self-harm and engage in negative coping strategies (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2013).   It is important to provide the support for CSA survivors to address these negative thoughts and painful emotions that come from the trauma of the abuse. Discouraging negative coping strategies and instead work towards developing positive coping mechanisms, establish healthy boundaries in relationships, and to build trust.   Developing emotional regulation skills is important in healing from CSA. “Emotional regulation refers to the process by which individuals influence which emotions they have, when they have them, and how they experience and express their feelings. Emotional regulation can be automatic or controlled, conscious or unconscious, and may have effects at one or more points in the emotion producing process.” (Gross, 1998, p. 275)  Emotional regulation skills and techniques allow CSA survivors to engage in modulating responses triggered by emotions. The ability to manage, modify and utilize emotions in a way that is beneficial. Every day we experience both positive and negative feelings aroused by the environmental stimuli around us which could require a response or an action. Henceforth, emotional regulation involves (Chowdhury, 2022):   Initiating actions trigged by emotions  Inhibiting actions triggered by emotions  Modulating responses triggered by emotions  Emotion regulation skills can be taught and improved over time with practice. Some of the skills that we can learn to self-regulate our emotions are (Klynn, 2021):   Create a space – give yourself time between what elicits an emotion (a trigger) and the response (an action triggered).  Emotional Awareness – to notice how and what you are feeling. An example would be to realize the physical reactions you may experience. What body parts are you experiencing sensation in?   Naming what you feel – to be able to name what you feel allows individuals to have some control. Ask yourself what you’d call the emotion that you’re feeling. Are you feeling sadness, anger, or disappointment? What other emotions are could you be feeling? A strong emotion that often is hidden behind others is fear.   Accepting the emotion – realize that your feelings are valid and that emotions are normal and is a natural way of how we respond to the environment.   Practice mindfulness – mindful awareness. Live in the moment and utilize your senses to see what is happening around you in non-judgemental ways.    Furthermore, there are emotion regulation practices that help manage our emotions and contribute to building positive coping skills (Klynn, 2021):   Identify and reduce triggers – look for factors, situations, and or patterns that arouse strong feelings.   Being in tune with physical symptoms – bring attention and awareness to how you’re feeling. How you feel physically could influence how you feel emotionally. Which could possibly affect how you may perceive your own emotions (e.g. if you’re hungry).   Consider the story you are telling yourself – utilize cognitive reappraisal. With absence of information, we provide our own attributions and fill in the blanks. Practices such as thought replacement or situational role reversal provides new and different perspectives (eg. replace thoughts of “My co-worker just ignored me” with “My co-worker might not have heard me because she/he was busy”). Which provides a wider perspective and allows individuals to react positively.   Positive self-talk – find or speak words of positive affirmation.   Practice Mindfulness – stepping back and observing the situation, not judging what is coming up for you, simply observe. Focus on breath. Make choice with how to respond to the situation in a way that will be helpful to you.   References:  Canadian Mental Health Association. (2013). Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Mental Health Issue. https://cmha.bc.ca/documents/childhood-sexual-abuse-a-mental-health-issue-2/#who  Chowdhury, M. (2022, March 23). What is Emotional Regulation? + 6 emotional Skills and Strategies. PositivePsychology. https://positivepsychology.com/emotion-regulation/  Gross, J. J. (1998). The emerging field of emotion regulation: An integrative review. Review of General Psychology, 2(3), 271-299.  Klynn, B. (2021, June 22). Emotional Regulation: Skills, Exercises, and Strategies. BetterUp. https://www.betterup.com/blog/emotional-regulation-skills 

Importance of Community & Belonging    Written By: Daniella Tucci, Previous Placement Student , The Gatehouse Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a very traumatic lived experience for people to hold onto for the rest of their lives. This type of abuse not only harms people physically, but as well leaves them emotionally scarred. Most often adult survivors struggle with feelings of isolation due to the impact of the abuse. Feelings of community, support, belonging, and trust may start to diminish as individuals isolate themselves from their environment around them. This then results in feelings of unworthiness and loneliness. These feelings of isolation stem from keeping the secrecy of the abuse.   Perpetrators may do anything in their power to keep the abuse a secret to avoid consequences, which then puts the survivor in a difficult situation. The relationship between perpetrator and victim is most often power-over, which means it is built on force, coercion, domination, and control, and runs off fear. It is set on the idea that some people (the perpetrator) have power, whereas others (the victim) have none (Stuart, 2019). This relationship can result in the survivor feeling broken, unworthy, and unlovable, amongst other feelings. This power imbalance creates an emotionally draining environment for the survivor, which can lead to future feelings of isolation.   CSA is also seen as a taboo topic making it uncomfortable to address, and even disclose. This unaccepting light shed onto an important global concern not only promotes silence in survivors but increases the chance of future abuse. To promote self-awareness as well as community awareness it is important to remind survivors that you are not alone. Although CSA is common, it is vital to remind survivors that this lived experience is not normal, accepting, or okay and what happened to them is not their fault. It has been found that 1 in 10 Canadians reported being sexually victimized before they turned 18 (Afifi et al., 2014). These numbers are disheartening, as a community it is important to highlight the use of one’s voice. By empowering and uplifting one another we can move survivors out of isolation to belonging.   It is common for survivors to feel alone at times due to the abuse and relationship they had with their perpetrator. Feelings and thoughts of no one will understand me, accept me, validate me, and appreciate me are common after CSA. A big contributor to this is a lack of trust. Oftentimes trust is stripped away because of the abuse, and it is hard for survivors to rebuild that sense of trust later in life. Although, trust building is a crucial part of the healing journey. To move out of isolation survivors must have confidence in others to hold and honor their experience.   Since each person’s story, experience, and coping mechanisms are different, the way in which a person seeks help can appear different as well. It is crucial to never force someone to share their story of CSA, we must accept and respect others’ boundaries and allow them to come forward when they are ready. In times where it is apparent that those around us need support or the motivation to seek help, it is important to lend them a helping hand and guide them down the right path. Overcoming feelings of helplessness, loneliness, and unworthiness require help from those around you, including professionals and loved ones (support systems). Seeking support is a big step, and it is not one you have to take alone. Finding agencies such as The Gatehouse help make starting a healing journey easier.   At The Gatehouse we believe that no one should suffer in silence. To build a sense of community, we encourage survivors to share their voice and stories in a safe space where they can be heard. We validate each and everyone’s story of CSA, highlight that you are worthy and capable of moving forward, and help promote community and connections. When seeking support, a person needs to find a place where they can flourish, feel accepted, and not alone – and that is exactly what The Gatehouse offers.   Embarking on a healing journey within a community atmosphere has its risks and benefits. Committing to a peer support group can cause feelings to arise, promote triggers and flashbacks, and cause a person to use unhealthy coping mechanisms. This is due to hearing and processing an abundance of information from the facilitators and participants. Although we highlight the risks, we as well highlight that you are not alone. Committing to a group at The Gatehouse provides a person with plenty of supports and resources. Participants learn they are not alone, and although everyone’s stories are different it is enlightening to know that they are not the only person with this lived experience. Making connections, sharing stories, and encouraging growth promote a sense of trust and community. By providing a safe environment where survivors can learn and grow together, it also creates a space where survivors can bond with one another. Peer support groups have an abundance of benefits and although we acknowledge the risks, we have seen a high success rate of healing with a community. Therefore, it is important to heal with a community since it provides support, resources, comfort, and trust that the survivor needs to process and heal from their trauma.   Important Reminder: healing is not a linear process, and although some moments on your journey can feel isolating you must remember that you are never alone.    Moving out of isolation can be hard, and overcoming unwanted feelings targeted at ourselves can be even harder. At The Gatehouse we promote sharing one’s voice and appreciate, respect, and validate each person’s story. By providing a safe, open, and inclusive space where survivors of CSA can come together to heal, we provide an opportunity to build a sense of community and belonging. Overcoming CSA does not have to be a process one embarks on alone. Through an empowerment approach The Gatehouse can offer a platform for all CSA