Online Sexual Abuse therapists in Ilfracombe, England ENG, United Kingdom UK

The trauma around having been sexually abused is often very subtle and insidious, felt in the background almost as if it belongs elsewhere. Its impact on your life can be far reaching. I have a particular interest in supporting people to come to terms with this impact, and to rebuild and move on with their lives.  

I work with those going through issues related to sexual abuse.  

All of our Clinical Psychologists at ComposurePsychology are experienced in working with and sensitive to people living trauma from sexual abuse. We help you to identify how trauma may be continuing to impact your life and how you can learn new strategies to lower the distress and impact any trauma has contributed to. We draw from evidence based therapies including; CBT, ACT, CFT, SFT, DBT, EMDR, systemic, narrative, psychodynamic and others.  

Sexual abuse can have a profound impact on how we relate to ourselves, our bodies, our relationships, and our sense of safety. I offer a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental space where you are free to share only what feels comfortable for you. Together, we explore how your experiences may be influencing your thoughts, emotions, beliefs, relationships, and daily life today. My trauma-informed approach focuses on helping you reconnect with a sense of safety, build self-compassion, understand your emotional and nervous system responses, and gently release the shame and self-blame that so often accompany trauma. While coaching is not a replacement for therapy, it can provide meaningful support alongside or after therapeutic work, depending on your needs.  

Sexual abuse cannot be tolerated and would have to be reported. For victims of sexual abuse, we can work with EMDR to overcome flash back, trauma, negative self beliefs, lessen emotional disturbance and re-connect with a sense of Self worth.  

Sexual violence and abuse is any behaviour of a sexual nature which is unwanted and takes place without consent or understanding. This can cause shock, guilt, anger, shame, depression, anxiety and/or have a profound effect on the survivor's attitude towards sex.  

I work with clients who have experienced the trauma of sexual abuse, either as children or in adulthood in a compassionate and relational way. I practise EMDR therapy, mindfulness based psychotherapy and parts work. EMDR along with mindfulness based therapy and parts work supports clients, in recovering from trauma.  

What happened to you was not your fault—and healing is possible. Surviving sexual abuse can leave lasting imprints—shame, fear, disconnection from your body, and a deep sense of mistrust. These experiences often create protective parts that help you survive but may now be keeping you from fully living. In our work together, we move at your pace, always honoring your system’s wisdom. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS) and gentle somatic practices like TRE, I help you build safety from the inside out, reconnect with your body, and begin to unburden the parts of you that are still carrying the pain. You don’t have to face this alone. You are worthy of safety, healing, and wholeness.  

If you have or are experiencing sexual abuse, it is very important to get help. You need to get out of this situation and/ or heal from the damage done. People that were sexually abused may be traumatized and suffer from dissociation (part of you goes away), flashbacks (images and/or physical and emotional reactions are triggered involuntarily) and other symptoms that can make your life difficult and hinder you to experience positive sexual encounters. This affects you and your relationships and can be helped. Don’t hesitate, especially if this is ongoing. Get help quickly and start your better life. If you are a person who abuses a child or any other person, part of you may justify this with different excuses and even claim it wasn’t abuse. If there is a part, maybe the best in you, that knows what you are doing is not ok, then get help as soon as possible. Change is possible, also for you.  

An integrative and trauma-informed approach is one of the most effective ways to support survivors with your healing process. This approach combines the empathic and person-centred principles of humanistic therapy with the sensitivity to trauma's impact on a survivor's mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. Counselling survivors of sexual abuse requires a compassionate, empathic and trauma-informed approach that prioritises your safety, autonomy and empowerment. By integrating humanistic principles with trauma-informed care, I provide a holistic and supportive environment that fosters healing and resilience. This approach not only addresses the immediate impact of sexual trauma but also empowers survivors to reclaim your sense of self and move forward with strength and hope.  

We can restore healthy relationships and intimacy- even if we have experienced abuse in the past. Feeling fearful, confused, ashamed, overly-sexualised or afraid of intimacy are important ways our nervous system may be dealing with something really difficult to process. And these protective patterns can shift. Sexual abuse or assault are, sadly, far more common than you'd think. Working with sexual abuse means working gently and delicately at your pace, often not even needing to re-hash the content of past events, but understanding how the after-effects have created your protective responses. We start with restoring a feeling of safety and integrity so that you can move at your own pace. I take a gentle, measured approach, helping you to heal somatically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually. My approach is informed by somatic experiencing and Polyvagal approaches, which work with our bodies and nervous systems.  

Having experienced and overcome the trauma and side effects of sexual abuse, and having studied accordingly, I can hold space for and help women and men with issues of sexual abuse, whether or not you remember things clearly. As with emotional abuse, there are many subtle ways that this can occur in all sorts of relationships. You can be sure that we will address your issues with absolute confidentiality, without judgement, and find a way out of shame and pain. It will need trust and patience.  

We work with women, men and children who are struggling to deal with current or historical rape or sexual abuse using Hypnotherapy and Mindfulness Therapies. This can include Traumatic Incident Reduction for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD and other forms of trauma.  

I am able to deal with sexual abuse sufferers on any level and that includes rape victims either recent or in the past - One woman was 72 and had been raled at 17 and still had the trauma until i dealt with it in one session to gain release. She was amazed that is had been carried all those years and damaged so much of her life when she could have dealt with it in Trauma therapy in the past 20 years and needed not suffer in silence any more.  

Sexual abuse is one of the most harmful experiences that anyone can endure. The consequences of sexual abuse can often be devastating. This is true even if the abuse might appear trivial to some people who lack understanding. Sexual abuse is always traumatic, and trauma therapy will nearly always heal most or all of consequences of the abuse. I never ask for any details about what has happened, but I will help you to recover and let go of the shame and other bad feelings associated with the abuse, so you can maintain healthy relationships.  

The impact of sexual abuse can be devastating, but your experience need not define you or dictate your actions. I have extensive experience of working with clients of all gender identities who have experienced sexual abuse. I use techniques to combat internalised shame, and to help them to feel safe.  

Experiences of sexual abuse can affect safety, trust, identity, boundaries, relationships, self-worth, and your connection to your own body. The impact can be long-lasting and may manifest in many ways. My approach is gentle, trauma-informed, and non-judgemental. I provide a space where you can move at your own pace, make sense of what you have experienced, and begin to rebuild safety, trust, and a stronger sense of self.  

Creating a Safe SpaceThe foundation of healing from sexual abuse is safety—and therapy provides a confidential, judgment-free space where you have complete control. You decide what to share, when to share it, and how fast to move. A trauma-informed therapist understands that building trust takes time and will never pressure you to discuss anything before you're ready.Processing the TraumaSexual abuse often gets "stuck" in your nervous system, which is why memories can feel so vivid and overwhelming. Trauma-focused therapies help your brain properly process these experiences so they become integrated memories rather than present threats.EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is particularly effective for sexual abuse. It helps reprocess traumatic memories without requiring you to describe every detail out loud. Through bilateral stimulation (eye movements or tapping), EMDR helps reduce the emotional intensity of memories and transform beliefs like "I'm dirty" or "It was my fault" into more accurate, compassionate truths like "I survived" or "I deserve safety and respect."Trauma-Focused CBT helps you work through trauma memories while also addressing unhelpful thought patterns and avoidance behaviors that keep you stuck.Releasing Shame and Self-BlameOne of the most insidious effects of sexual abuse is shame—the feeling that you're somehow damaged, dirty, or responsible for what happened. Therapy helps you understand that shame belongs to the perpetrator, not to you. Your therapist will gently but consistently help you recognize that: The abuse was not your fault, regardless of the circumstances Your body's responses (freezing, not fighting back, physical sensations) were survival mechanisms, not consent You deserve compassion, not judgment You're not defined by what was done to you Reconnecting with Your BodySexual abuse often causes disconnection from your body—feeling numb, dissociated, or like your body betrayed you. Somatic therapies help you gradually reconnect with physical sensations in a safe, gentle way. You learn that your body isn't the enemy; it protected you the best way it could and can be a source of wisdom and strength.Rebuilding TrustAfter abuse, trusting others—or yourself—can feel impossible. The therapeutic relationship itself becomes a space to practice trust. Your therapist demonstrates consistency, respect for boundaries, and genuine care without exploitation. Over time, this experience can help you believe that safe, trustworthy relationships are possible.Working Through Relationship and Intimacy IssuesSexual abuse often complicates romantic and sexual relationships. Therapy provides space to explore these difficulties, whether that's fear of intimacy, difficulty with physical touch, complicated feelings about sex, or patterns of choosing unhealthy partners. You can work on communicating your needs, setting boundaries, and gradually reclaiming your sexuality on your own terms.Processing Complex FeelingsIf the abuse was committed by someone you knew, loved, or depended on—which is often the case—your feelings might be complicated. You might experience grief, anger, confusion, or even lingering attachment alongside the trauma. Therapy honors this complexity without judgment and helps you make sense of seemingly contradictory emotions.Addressing DissociationMany survivors of sexual abuse experience dissociation—feeling disconnected from yourself, your surroundings, or reality. This was likely a protective response during the abuse. Therapy teaches grounding techniques to help you stay present and gradually reduces the need for dissociation as you process the trauma.Healing Developmental WoundsIf the abuse occurred during childhood or adolescence, it may have disrupted your normal development—impacting your sense of identity, sexuality, boundaries, and relationships. Therapy helps address these developmental wounds and supports you in reclaiming aspects of growth that were stolen from you.Breaking Silence and IsolationSexual abuse thrives in secrecy. Simply speaking your truth to someone who believes you and responds with compassion can be profoundly healing. Therapy breaks the isolation that abuse creates and reminds you that you're not alone—many survivors have walked this path before you and found their way to healing.Reclaiming Your PowerAbuse strips away your sense of control and agency. Therapy helps you reclaim your power—making choices about your healing process, setting boundaries, discovering your voice, and recognizing your strength. You learn that you're not a victim defined by what happened; you're a survivor with agency over your future. Building a Life Beyond SurvivalEarly therapy often focuses on stabilization and processing trauma. As you heal, therapy shifts toward building the life you want—developing healthy relationships, pursuing goals, experiencing joy, and discovering who you are beyond the abuse. Recovery isn't just about reducing symptoms; it's about thriving.  

Healing from sexual trauma requires a foundation of absolute safety and choice. I offer trauma-informed support to help you process your experiences at your own pace, focusing on reclaiming your sense of autonomy and peace.  

I help people over come and understand their trauma so that they can have a healthier connection with their own body and create lasting meaningful relationships going forward.