Reclaiming Your Life: The Integration Phase
After processing your trauma and developing coping strategies, the integration phase focuses on rebuilding your life and embracing a hopeful future. This phase involves integrating your past experiences into your present and future, fostering personal growth, and cultivating a sense of purpose.
Building a Brighter Future
The integration phase is the final stage of your healing journey. It involves incorporating the lessons learned and your survival from your past into your present and future. This phase focuses on rebuilding your life, cultivating positive relationships, and achieving your goals.
Why Integration Matters?
Rebuild your relationships, pursue your passions, and live a fulfilling life.
Strengthen your ability to cope with future challenges and setbacks.
Embrace personal growth and development.
What to Expect in the Integration Phase?
Set Goals: Define short-term and long-term goals to guide your journey.
Build Strong Relationships Cultivate healthy and supportive relationships with loved ones.
Practice Self-Care: Prioritise self-care activities to maintain your well-being.
Engage in Meaningful Activities: Pursue hobbies, volunteer work, or other activities that bring you joy.
Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small.
Continue Therapy: If necessary, continue therapy to address ongoing challenges.
Your journey to healing begins with the Safety and Stabilisation phase.
The first step is to contact us. You can reach out through our website, phone, text or email. A member of our team will discuss your needs and connect you with appropriate support services. We'll aim to make contatct with you within 2 working days.
Once you've connected with SiT, you'll undergo an initial assessment to determine your specific needs and develop a personalised care plan and recommendations based on your circumstances.
Understanding trauma and its impact is crucial for recognising the need for support, the type of support and promoting recovery.
You'll learn techniques to manage emotions, such as anxiety, anger, or sadness. This may include mindfulness, deep breathing, or other relaxation techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that navigating the integration phase can have its challenges. Here are some common questions:
While there's no definitive timeline, you may feel ready to integrate when you experience increased stability, reduced anxiety, and improved coping mechanisms.
If you experience triggers or flashbacks, practice grounding techniques, such as deep breathing or mindfulness. Seek support from your therapist or a trusted friend.
Practice effective communication, active listening, and empathy. Set boundaries, express your needs, and be patient with yourself and others.
Start slowly and gradually increase your commitments. Prioritize tasks, set realistic goals, and practice time management techniques.
Practice gratitude, celebrate your achievements, and focus on the positive aspects of your life.
Healing is a journey, not a destination. While you may experience significant improvement, it's important to remember that healing is an ongoing process. Focus on progress, not perfection.
Our Three-Phased Approach
We work to a 3 phase response to trauma, Dr. Pierre Janet conceived of the phased framework to trauma recovery in the late 1800’s and Dr. Judith Herman made it more readily known in her groundbreaking book, Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence (1992). This is the evidence based model we use to navigate survivors through trauma recovery, but understand that no on size fits all.
Before we can do start to deal with the trauma you experienced, we need to ensure you are safe, have a supportive network and understand the impact of your sexual violence. We will most likely offer you our Hold Fast programme either 1:1 or in a group with other survivors – depending on your preference.
Specialist trauma therapy (also known as Remembrance and Mourning). This will most often take the form of trauma informed therapy or counselling sessions or a recommended group therapy programme.
Survivor Resources & Research
Learning from other survivors journeys can be a powerful tool, and make you feel much less alone. Access specialist articles, survivor stories, and evidence-based research about childhood sexual violence recovery and support.
Articles and guides covering trauma responses, recovery stages, and practical support strategies for survivors of childhood sexual violence.
A curated collection of poems written by survivors of sexual abuse, sharing personal experiences of trauma, healing, and recovery. *Please note that whilst this content is moderated you may find some of it triggering so please take care*
Key findings from our research , revealing crucial insights into sexual violence and abuse, how survivors access support services, costs to the NHS and survivor experiences, and more
With your support, we can help more survivors access the support they need when they need it. Every donation directly funds our work to supporting those affected by sexual violence.
