Perspectives on responses to sexual assault

Participant 1: There are a lot of different responses to trauma. Participant 2: The one thing I wish more people would have said to me is, “you don’t even need to answer me- I’m just…

Participant 1: It’s a very difficult thing to relive and the more you have to re-tell something, it can be very, very retraumatizing for individuals. So, for you [if you are supporting a survivor], it’s…

Participant 1: I watched how much it took out of her each time she had to explain it to someone, so that’s why I’m wondering if there is any way to make who the best…

It’s not my area of expertise. I don’t know how to properly respond to someone who’s gone through that. There are ways that you need to talk to them [unclear]. I believe there’s a way…

When a student discloses or reports, there needs to be something there that people can point to, or students can say, “on the website is… ” but in particular, staff or faculty can say, “here…

I have an elementary training in responding to situations like this – responding to delicate situations like sexual assault victims and people who have suicidal ideations. And it’s not something that a – a normal…

Participant 1: It would make a world of difference for a lot of people to hear, “I support whatever choice you make; these are your choices, it’s okay to do that.” Not, “you should,” necessarily,…

I think you need to have big ears and a big heart. Its about listening, like, active listening, not just listening – letting that person tell their story the way that they want to. Um,…

I want to make her feel as comfortable as she can in doing whatever she feels like she needs to do. I don’t know, because you can’t put yourself in that other person’s shoes, so…

Participant 1: The support person should be honest about what they can provide and what they can’t provide. Maybe they are being triggered themselves and really can’t be there, and as difficult as that would…