The Sexual Offences Act 2003 for England and Wales says that a person consents to something if that person ‘agrees by choice and has the freedom and capacity to make that choice’. 

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Non-consensual and harmful acts relating to sex and sexual violence span a vast spectrum and come in a variety of different guises. From revenge porn to sexual harassment, up skirting, cat calling, rape and sexual assault, the ways in which we can harm another through sexual acts are numerous.

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The specific details of your experience, and the nuances of the situation may vary, but what remains consistent is that sexual acts that take place without consent can be tremendously distressing, and these events may take a considerable amount of time to recover from. Experiencing this kind of trauma can drastically change how a person feels about themselves, the world, and their basic sense of safety. 

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Sexual assault and rape are crimes that anyone of any gender can be a victim of, though typically women experience it in higher numbers. As a society we have been rocked by recent conversations about women's experiences of sexual violence and their overall sense of safety.  It is a positive and important forward step that we are examining the lived experience of women, and having honest discussion about sexual violence and it's impact on women and men, but it can be an incredibly difficult time for those who have experienced it's harm.

 

Working through those experiences and the feelings these conversations provoke with a experienced professional can be an invaluable part of how we heal. If you feel impacted by these issues and would like to begin to process of working on this, get in touch today.

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Helpful resources:

• Rape Crisis

• Victim Support

• CPS on sexual offences

• Office for national statistics, with recent findings around sexual assault and rape

• Citizens Advice

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My other areas of specialism are: Birth trauma, Domestic Abuse​ & Early Parenthood.

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