Before making a professional referral, it’s important to make sure your patient or service user is ready to work with Safety Net. This means your service user feels emotionally steady, motivated to take steps forward, and supported by a safe and caring environment. We can only work with service users whose abuse or abusive relationship ended more than three months ago and they are now safe.
Every survivor of domestic and sexual abuse has a unique experience and their own timeline for recovery. We are here to help when the time is right for them.
Recovery from sexual and domestic abuse is a deeply personal journey that requires emotional stability and a safe environment. Engaging in recovery work while still in an unsafe situation, such as during an ongoing abusive relationship or shortly after a sexual assault, can increase both emotional and physical risks. Without a secure foundation, addressing trauma may heighten vulnerability and make progress more difficult.
To fully benefit from recovery support, service users should be in a place where they can:
If someone is in crisis or dealing with ongoing safety concerns, recovery work may increase distress. We recommend waiting at least three months after an abusive relationship has ended or after experiencing a sexual assault. This time allows for the establishment of emotional stability and safety, ensuring service users are better prepared to focus on their healing journey.
Determining readiness for recovery can be challenging. If you’re unsure after reviewing the available information, focus on whether the service user feels prepared to begin their recovery journey.
For trauma recovery specifically, emotional stability and a safe environment are foundational. Key indicators of readiness include:
It’s important to address any immediate safety concerns or instability before proceeding with a referral. Establishing stability and support ensures the service user is in the best position to succeed in their recovery process.
If your service user has recently left an abusive relationship, they may still be dealing with intense fear, anxiety, and even PTSD, which are all typical emotions at this point. If they were to enter therapy immediately, they might find it overwhelming to process their trauma while also navigating housing insecurity, financial difficulties, or ongoing safety concerns.
In this case, it would be more beneficial for them to first focus and work with services, like Victim Support, that can help them stabilise their situation: finding safe housing, securing legal assistance, and building a support network. Once these basic needs are met and your service user feels more secure, they will be better equipped to engage in the deeper emotional work of recovery with Safety Net.
“My counsellor listened to me, engaged with me, helped me face some challenging situations and guided me in dealing with past trauma. She couldn’t have done a better job and has truly helped me.”
