Organisations Offering Support
If you are in emotional distress or struggling to cope & live in the UK or Republic of Ireland, then the Samaritans are there for you 24 hours a day 365 days a year. You can ring them for free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Their website also has lots of resources, including a self-help App to improve your well-being.
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The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
This is one of the UK's largest professional bodies for counsellors & psychotherapists. It is also a voluntary regulator & has been more proactive than some comparable organisations in taking steps to help make therapy safer. It provides a service to assist with counselling concerns (formerly called Ask Kathleen). This includes confidential telephone (9:30am-4:00pm, Monday-Thursday) and email guidance regarding what to do if you have concerns about your therapy/therapist. They also have plenty of helpful information including answers to questions people contacting the helpline frequently ask.
https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/get-help-with-counselling-concerns-service/
Telephone (UK): 01455 883300 option 2, 07811 762114 or 07811 762256
Email: gethelp@bacp.co.uk
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The Survivors' Trust is an umbrella organisation with 124 members, all of whom support survivors of sexual assault in the UK & Ireland. There is a free helpline 0808 801 0818 (not 24 hour) providing information, support & advice. It can put you in touch with specialist organisations in your area, who can support you.
You can also email them: helpline@thesurvivorstrust.org
Web address: https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/
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Victim support provides free and confidential support 24/7 all year round for people affected by crime and traumatic events in the UK, irrespective of whether you have or wish to report the crime committed against you to the police.
Web address: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
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Therapy Exploitation Link Line (TELL)
TELL is a support network run by & for victims/survivors of sexual and/or emotional abuse occurring during talking therapy or within health services. It has a range of resources to support people affected. Its advice & support are primarily (but not exclusively) geared towards people living in North America.
Web address: https://www.therapyabuse.org/
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Recommended Therapists
It can be very difficult for those harmed in therapy to return to it. However, subsequent effective therapy may be very beneficial. Often the issues that led to seeking help in the first place have yet to be adequately addressed. In addition, you may benefit from exploring & processing your experiences of harm. Sometimes the ability to put trust in the therapeutic relationship has been impaired. Symptoms of PTSD or complex trauma are not uncommon. This is why it is so important to find a skillful, compassionate therapist, committed to ethical practice, who is aware of these challenges.
It is crucial to find someone you feel comfortable with. It is often helpful to have an initial session with 3 or 4 therapists & select the best fit for you.
Will We Be Heard? has our first recommended therapist (we derive no benefit from this recommendation) & more will follow shortly, once carefully selected. Because the choice of therapist is such an individual one however, whilst the therapists we recommend are likely to be helpful & safe, it is extremely important that you assess that they feel right for you.
We are unable to provide financial assistance at the moment, but hope that we may be able to do so in the near future.
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Dr. Chris Irons at Balanced Minds
Chris is kind, compassionate & highly experienced. He has successfully helped people harmed by previous therapy. Chris worked for many years as a clinical psychologist in the NHS & is currently the co-director of Balanced Minds, an organisation which provides compassion-focused psychological services & resources. He is recognised internationally, both as a leading trainer and a supervisor of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT).
You can find out more information about him on the Balanced Minds website here:
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https://balancedminds.com/dr-chris-irons/
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& contact him by email here: chris@balancedminds.com
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