Resources
You are not alone in this
Healing doesn't happen in one place, or alone. This page gathers some of the people, organisations and books we trust: for moments of crisis, and for reading at your own pace.
If you need support now
We have put services run by and for women first, and marked each one "Women" or "Everyone". DoraVera is not a crisis service, and these organisations are independent.
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United Kingdom
24 hours, every day. Phone, and online chat for women and girls aged 16+. Sexual violence, any time it happened.
Every evening, 5pm to midnight. Staffed by women. Also by text on 07537 410 027 and webchat.
Open 24 hours. Text 07860 077 333. Domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Sexual Assault Referral Centres (England and Wales) offer medical care and, if you want it, a forensic examination. In Scotland, call SARCS on this number, 24 hours a day, within 7 days of an assault. Many services don't require you to report to the police.
Europe and Ireland
Free, anonymous, 24 hours. Not an emergency line: for emergencies call 17 or 112.
Befrienders Worldwide lists emotional-support lines by country. More countries will be added as our community grows.
A note on using these services
These are independent services run by trained people. Most offer confidential support, but policies vary, so you're welcome to ask about confidentiality at the start of a call. Many numbers are free only from within their own country. They are not there to tell you what to do, but to help you ground, breathe and find safety in the present moment.
Books
We've included books written by women who work with women healing from sexual abuse, and added a few classics. These are not endorsements, and no book suits everyone, so be gentle with yourself and put anything down that feels like too much.
Trauma and Recovery
by Judith Herman
The landmark book on how trauma affects people and how recovery unfolds.
The Courage to Heal
by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis
The classic guide for women healing from childhood sexual abuse, with practical exercises alongside validation and hope. It's a little dated and quite heavy, so be discerning.
Healing Sex
by Staci Haines
Somatic and body-centred, excellent if you want the physical dimension addressed directly.
The Sexual Healing Journey
by Wendy Maltz
Gentle, compassionate work on rebuilding intimacy and sexuality after abuse.
It Wasn't Your Fault
by Beverly Engel
Dismantles the shame that often follows childhood abuse, using self-compassion.
Rage Becomes Her
by Soraya Chemaly
On women's anger and what it can become.
The Journal
Imperfectly Perfect
Notes from a healing life: honest, unfinished and true.
The Journal is where the rubber meets the road: real stories, real reflections, and the stubborn discovery that healing isn't a straight line. It's a spiral staircase, and the view improves.
I write about the long road: what I've learned, what I'm still learning, and what it's been like to build DoraVera. Some stories touch on sexual trauma, and each one begins with a content note, so you can choose whether to read.
Read the Journal →
The wisdom to heal is already in you.
Join the waitlist and you'll be among the first to know when DoraVera opens. Roots will always be free.