Online Counselling After Sexual Abuse
After sexual abuse, deciding whom to tell or whether to seek support can feel difficult. You can explore counselling at your own pace, without having to recount events before you feel ready.
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Recognising the impact
Sexual abuse includes sexual activity without freely given consent. Experiences and reactions vary: some people feel frightened or angry; others feel numb, confused or uncertain about what happened. None of these reactions determines whether your experience matters.
How counselling may help
A therapist can offer a confidential space to discuss trust, boundaries, sleep, relationships or difficult memories. You can ask about trauma-informed experience, how the therapist handles disclosures and what happens if you need a pause. Counselling should not require a detailed account of an assault.
Choice and confidentiality
You control what you share and can ask about confidentiality and its limits before discussing anything personal. If you are considering reporting, specialist services can explain options without requiring you to make a decision during a therapy session.
Specialist help and safety
If you need medical attention, forensic options or immediate safety support, a sexual assault referral centre (SARC) or specialist service may be more suitable than waiting for a routine counselling appointment. The NHS guide to help after rape and sexual assault explains available options. You can seek specialist support whether or not you report to police.
Related support
Depending on your situation, our pages on trauma and domestic abuse may also be helpful.
Finding a therapist and next steps
Compare independent therapists’ profiles, relevant experience, session formats and fees before booking. You can ask about suitability and confidentiality in an initial conversation. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent non-emergency medical concerns, contact your GP or local urgent-care service; in Northern Ireland, use your GP out-of-hours service when your surgery is closed.
Clinically reviewed by Daniel Rosenberg, Senior Counsellor, ACCPH Member, General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR) Registrant on 5 November 2026.
Find therapists who support people affected by sexual abuse
André O'Donnell
Counselor & Psychotherapist
Daniel Kent
Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist
Donna Claire Maguire
Dr Gillian Rayner
Consultant Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, Compassion Focused Psychotherapist and Integrative Psychotherapist
Dr Maura Abdelall
Counselling Psychologist
Dr Peter Slater
Psychotherapist (adult and child and adolescent )
How Veyro works
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Browse
Filter by what you need help with, price, gender, language and more.
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Book
Pick a time that suits you and pay securely. No account needed.
- 3
Talk
Meet your therapist online from wherever you feel comfortable.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to describe what happened?
No. You can discuss your goals, present-day difficulties and boundaries without giving a detailed account of an experience.
Can I seek counselling years later?
Yes. There is no deadline for asking for emotional support, whether an experience was recent or long ago.
Will a therapist tell the police?
Ask about confidentiality and safeguarding limits before sharing details. Rules depend on circumstances, including immediate risk and the safety of children.
What if I am unsure whether it was abuse?
You can talk about what happened and how it affected you without first choosing a legal or clinical label.
Can therapy help with intimacy or trust?
It may help you explore boundaries, feelings of safety and relationships at a pace that suits you; outcomes vary.
What is a SARC?
A sexual assault referral centre can provide specialist medical, practical and forensic support, including options that do not require an immediate police report.
What if I am unsafe now?
If you are in immediate danger, call 999. For other urgent needs, seek local specialist or medical support rather than waiting for a therapy booking.