She Strengthens

Healing from Trauma: A Comprehensive Guide to Resources and Support

Recovering from trauma requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the physical, emotional, and psychological impacts of the experience. This guide provides a comprehensive list of resources, support services, and therapies to help individuals navigate the healing process.

Hotlines and Call Centers

• Anti-Violence Project (212-714-1141): Offers crisis intervention, support, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ survivors of violence.
• Childhelp (1-800-422-4453): Provides 24/7 support for individuals affected by child abuse.
• Darkness to Light (1-866-FOR-LIGHT): Offers local information and resources about sexual abuse, as well as crisis support with trained counselors.
• Day One (800-214-4150): Supports individuals 24 years old or younger who have experienced sexual trauma and/or domestic violence.
• loveisrespect (1-866-331-9474): Empowers youth and young adults to prevent and end abusive relationships.
• National Center for Victims of Crime (1-855-4VICTIM): Connects victims of crime with local resources, legal aid, and treatment services.
• RAINN (800-656-HOPE): Operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, providing 24/7 support for survivors of sexual violence.
• Safe Horizon (1-800-621-HOPE): Offers a national hotline for domestic violence survivors, as well as counseling, legal aid, and shelter services.

Shelters, Counseling, and Support Resources

• Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS): Provides counseling, advocacy, and support services for deaf and deaf-blind individuals affected by abuse.
• Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT): Offers a directory of qualified therapists specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy for trauma recovery.
• Domestic Shelters: A comprehensive database of shelters and domestic violence programs across the country.
• Exhale to Inhale (ETI): Empowers survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault through yoga and mindfulness practices.
• National Center for PTSD: A web resource providing information on PTSD, treatment options, and research studies.
• Psychology Today: A directory of therapists and support groups specializing in trauma recovery.
• The Breathe Network: Connects survivors with practitioners offering sliding-scale, trauma-informed healing arts and support services.

Trauma-Informed Yoga and Somatic Therapies

• Exhale to Inhale (ETI): Offers trauma-informed yoga classes and teacher training programs.
• SomaticExperiencing Trauma Institute: Provides information on somatic experiencing therapy and a directory of certified practitioners.
• Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute: Offers outpatient medical services, including somatic-based therapies, for clients seeking therapeutic treatment.

Animal Therapy and Support

• Assistance Dogs International: A coalition of non-profit organizations that help individuals find assistance dogs to match their needs.
• Alliance of Therapy Dogs: A national therapy dog registry that certifies therapy dog teams.
• EQUUSOMA: Offers equine-assisted trauma therapy and support services.
• Freedom Farm Therapeutic Riding Center: Provides therapeutic riding programs for individuals with physical, mental, and emotional challenges.
• Pawsitivity: Trains service dogs for individuals with PTSD and other conditions.
• SheHerdPower Foundation: Offers equine-guided empowerment services for women survivors of sexual trauma.

Online Chat and Peer Support

• 1in6: A resource for men who have experienced unwanted or abusive sexual experiences, offering recovery information, online chat support, and anonymous online support groups.
• Forge: A Milwaukee-based organization advocating for and supporting transgender/nonbinary individuals affected by sexual violence.
• Male Survivor: A collection of resources, articles, and forums for men who have experienced sexual trauma.
• National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): Offers up-to-date research and resources on sexual violence recovery, including news, projects, and a library.
• Survivorship: An online space for survivors of specific types of sexual abuse or trauma to share and validate their experiences.

Retreats and Residential Programs

• Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health: A yoga and healing arts retreat center offering programs and workshops focused on trauma recovery.
• Siddhayatan: A Place of Siddhas: A spiritual retreat center using the Purnam Yoga System to help manage PTSD symptoms.
• The Refuge: A Healing Place: A residential treatment center offering a range of therapeutic approaches to healing sexual trauma.

Books and Resources

• General texts: “Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men” by Lundy Bancroft, “Writing Ourselves Whole: Using the Power of Your Own Creativity to Recover and Heal from Sexual Trauma” by Jen Cross, and “Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence — from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror” by Judith Herman.
• Gender-specific books: “The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Sexual Abuse” by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis, and “Victims No Longer: The Classic Guide for Men Recovering from Sexual Child Abuse” by Mike Lew.
• LGBTQIA-specific books: “Queering Sexual Violence: Radical Voices from Within the Anti-Violence Movement” by Jennifer Patterson, and “The Queer and Transgender Resilience Workbook: Skills for Navigating Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression” by Anneliese Singh.
• Books specific to people of color: “The Beginning and End of Rape: Confronting Sexual Violence in Native America” by Sarah Deer, “Decolonizing Trauma Work: Indigenous Stories and Strategies” by Renee Linklater, “I Will Survive: The African-American Guide to Healing from Sexual Assault and Abuse” by Lori S. Robinson and Julia A. Boyd, and “Mejor sola que mal acompañada: para la mujer golpeada / For the Latina in an Abusive Relationship” by Myrna M. Zambrano.
• Books about reclaiming your sex life: “The Art of Healing from Sexual Trauma: Tending Body and Soul Through Creativity, Nature, and and ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” “