Sexual harm, abuse and trauma

Sexual harm, abuse and trauma

What happened was not your fault. Your body may still be carrying it, and it can be spoken to gently, with or without touch.

If you are a person in your late teens onwards who has experienced sexual harm, this page is for you. Whether recently or long ago, in childhood or later in life; you do not need to have told anyone before, and you do not need a label for what happened.

A first conversation

If you are unsure, begin with a conversation. You can ask me anything, and say what you need in order to feel safe. There is no obligation to continue.

What you can expect from me

Clear boundaries, explained before anything happens
Pace set by you, with the freedom to stop at any time
No assumption about who you are or what happened to you
Steady, attentive presence rather than pressure or expectation
The option of a chaperone or support person You are welcome to bring someone with you

What I offer

I am an HCPC-registered physiotherapist and somatic trauma therapist, and the work combines conversation, relationship and attention to the body, at your pace. I am glad to work alongside a counsellor, psychotherapist, or your doctor if you have them, and I will coordinate with them if you wish.

You decide what I know

I do not need you to tell me what happened. Some people tell me a great deal, some tell me almost nothing, and the work can go ahead either way. You choose what to share and when, and you can change your mind.

Why working with the body can help

Sexual harm often leaves people feeling unsafe in their own bodies, or disconnected from them. Body-based work offers a way to rebuild a sense of ownership and choice in small, manageable steps. It is not a replacement for specialist psychological or counselling support, and many people have both.

Access support now

Recent assault or sexual harrm

Contact your GP, NHS 111, or the police. A Sexual Assault Referral Centre can offer care and support.

Rape Crisis England and Wales

Free national helpline. Verify number and hours before publishing

Survivors UK

Support for men and boys. Verify before publishing

In crisis

Samaritans, 116 123, at any time

How sexual harm can live in the body

Feeling numb, detached or not at home in your body
Tightness, pain or fatigue with no clear medical cause
Difficulty with touch, closeness or intimacy, or with being touched by anyone at all
Being easily startled, or freezing when you least expect it
Shame, even though you know it was not your fault

Consent and boundaries

Consent

Ongoing, and can be withdrawn at any moment.

Chaperone

You are welcome to bring someone with you

Touch

Always optional

Intimacy, desire and your own aliveness

Sexual harm can leave people shut down, over-alert, or cut off from desire, pleasure and their own sexual energy. Years later it can make intimacy with a partner feel hard or frightening, or leave you unable to welcome healthy touch even when you want to.

That is not a failing. With skilled, attuned and unhurried relational work, many people find their way back to closeness at their own pace.

Therapeutic touch for sexual harm

The touch of presence

Being truly attended to, without being asked for anything, can be a form of contact in its own right. Many people have never had that. We start there, at whatever distance feels right, and let it grow slowly.

Touch without contact

Presence, attention and the way I hold the space can be felt by the body as contact. We can work somatically without any physical touch, and many people do the whole of their work this way.

Touch is not the only path

After sexual harm, touch can mean danger, shame or nothing at all. Avoiding touch can also leave people without a way of learning, in the body, that touch can be safe and theirs to control. Touch is one possible part of repair, and often a late one, and it comes after safety, trust and choice have been established.

Why some people choose a male practitioner

If harm came from a man, or if fathers, partners or male figures were absent, frightening or confusing, the body can carry a particular wariness. Some people want to meet that directly, with a man who is steady, clear and respectful of boundaries. The experience of being treated with care by a man can be a corrective one.

Why some people prefer a female practitioner

Other people feel safer with a woman, and that is just as good a reason. If that is you, I will gladly help you find a colleague.

Nobody should feel they have to work with someone who does not feel right.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to tell you what happened?

No. The work can go ahead with very little detail. You choose what to share.

Is touch always part of your work?

No. Touch is optional and only ever used with your explicit agreement, which you can withdraw at any moment.

Can I also see a counsellor or therapist?

Yes. Many people do, and I am glad to work alongside them. The work I do includes conversation as well as attention to the body.

Is sexual trauma therapy available in Wokingham?

Yes. Rodger Duckworth works with adults at The Grange Health in Wokingham, Berkshire.

Can touch therapy help after sexual abuse?

For some people, carefully consented touch is one part of re-learning safety in the body. For others it is not right. It is always your choice, and it can sit alongside counselling or other support.

What if touch feels frightening?

Then we do not use it. Many people work with me without touch, and you can change your mind at any time.

Should I see a man or a woman after sexual abuse?

Whichever feels right to you. Some people benefit from experiencing a safe, respectful man, and others feel safer with a woman.

Can I bring someone with me?

Please ask. You are welcome to bring someone with you

A safe space for your healing journey

Rodger Duckworth sees clients at The Grange Health in Wokingham, Berkshire, and works with people from Wokingham, Reading, Bracknell, Crowthorne, Finchampstead, Winnersh and the surrounding area.

Sessions are available in person or online.

The Grange | 15 Rectory Road | Wokingham | RG40 1DJ | 0118 978 6149

Whenever you are ready

A first message does not commit you to anything. Reception will help you find the right time.