Restoring Your Sense of Self: Healing After Childhood Sexual

Name: Restoring Your Sense of Self: Healing After Childhood Sexual
Rating: 4.3 (5 reviews)

Restoring Your Sense of Self: Healing After Childhood Sexual Abuse

Created byMargaret Cook

Last updated 4/2026

English

What you'll learn

Understanding Childhood Sexual Abuse: Learn what child sexual abuse is and how it occurs.
Coping with Flashbacks and Triggers: Explore ways to manage and cope with flashbacks, dreams, and triggers.
Recognizing Abuse: Understand the circumstances in which sexual abuse can occur and validate that it really happened.
Speaking Up About the Abuse: Navigate the decision to speak up about the abuse and prepare for the questions you may be asked.
Breaking the Silence: Discover why people often don't say anything about the abuse and how to break the silence.
Starting the Conversation: Engage in activities designed to help you start talking about what happened.
Understanding Protection Failures: Reflect on who didn't protect you from the abuse when it occurred.
Seeking Help and Support: Find the courage to talk about it and seek the help and support you need.

Course content

7 sections • 22 lectures • 45m total length

Introduction to the course2:07
This lesson introduces the topic which is the impact that childhood sexual abuse can have on you, your life and your relationships, or maybe someone you know who may have experienced it.

What is sexual abuse?1:30
What is sexual abuse? It is any kind of sexual behaviour by an adult with a child ,or any unwanted or inappropriate behaviour from another child or being persuaded to touch someone else in a sexual way.
How does abuse occur?1:38
Here in this lesson we are going to look at how abuse occurs because there are certain factors that are in place that enable it happening.
Circumstances in which sexual abuse can occur3:09
Sexual abuse occurs because of certain factors which enable it to happen, and we look at these in this lesson in more detail and explain how it occurs..
Ways that sexual abuse may have affected your life1:30
What we are going to look at here in this lesson are the ways that sexual abuse may have affected your life, for example anxiety, depression, and OCD's

Did abuse really happen ?1:19
Sometimes adults wonder whether the abuse really happened or whether they are imagining it and the reason for this could be that they do not have complete memories.
Did I cause the abuse?2:08
A question adults often ask themselves is “did I cause the abuse?” People often believe that they caused the abuse or that they were chosen for the abuse because there was something about them that caused it to happen.
An imbalance of power2:33
Abusers often create a position of power over young children in a number of different ways by blackmailing them, threatening them or emotionally manipulating them and there is also the physical strength the abuser may have over the child.
Why didn't I stop the abuse?1:42
We develop beliefs about ourselves in childhood as a result of our experiences and our interactions with other people. As an adult we can often forget sometimes how powerless they were as children compared to their abusers

Identify triggers of the abuse2:26
Often many adults may continue to have problems as a result of their childhood abuse such as how they think and feel, the things they do and how they relate to other people.
Dealing with flashbacks, emotions and dreams2:19
Flashbacks are vivid memories where it feels as if past events are being re-lived now and the child is re-experiencing the abuse, these flashbacks can happen at any time and are usually triggered by reminders of the abuse.
Are you frightened by your anger?1:45
Once you begin to realise that you were not to blame for the abuse, you may start to feel angry. Some survivors describe feelings of anger and rage which feels so powerful that they fear they will not be able to control themselves.
Ways that you have coped ( in the past )1:38
You may believe that some of the difficulties you have in your life are because of past experiences and we will look for at this in more detail in this lesson.

Why children don't tell?1:06
The main reason why children don’t tell is often due to the power that the abuser had over them and they often feel powerless or helpless or some think that in some way it’s their fault and develop ways to cope with their guilt.
Who didn't protect you from the abuse when it occurred?1:37
There can often be negative feelings or confusing beliefs about those you who were around you at the time of the abuse, who you think should have protected you.

Whether to report the abuse or speak out about it1:18
Speaking out about what happened or confronting your abuser is a difficult thing to do, and here in this lesson we discuss some things to consider before doing so.
Deciding whether to speak out the abuse and questions you may be asked2:59
You may have reached a stage in your life where you want to open up about what happened to you. Or you may feel that you can no longer keep it to yourself and want to seek the help of a professional.
Alternatively you may have decided that you don’t want to talk about the abuse or share what happened, and that is your own choice.
Reasons to tell or not tell someone and what you may need to share3:19
If you have decided to speak out or report to someone what happened to you. They will certainly have some questions to ask you and you need to prepare yourself for what they will want to know about the abuse.
If deciding to speak out, start with something small that you can cope with.2:15
In this lesson I discuss some strategies to help you to get started with talking about what happened. It is often advised to start with something small and that you can cope with sharing.
Taking care of yourself by having some coping strategies2:04
In this lesson I share some suggestions of things that you can do to look after your physical, mental and emotional well-being as you go through this process of opening up about what happened.
Some activities to help you get started with talking about what happened2:56
Having started to open up about some of what happened to you in your early life is not easy, even if it is opening up more to yourself and dealing with those memories and emotions. Here are some resources to help you.

Requirements

Have access to the internet.
Be able to watch and listen to video tutorials
Be able to download and view PDF files
Be willing to participate by completing the exercises/activities

Description

Restoring Your Sense of Self: Healing After Childhood Sexual Abuse

Childhood sexual abuse leaves deep and lasting wounds, often shaping how survivors see themselves, relate to others, and move through the world. Many adults carry the impact quietly for years, living with anxiety, depression, self‑doubt, shame, or a sense of disconnection. Some struggle with relationships, boundaries, trust, or feeling safe in their own bodies. Others face loneliness, financial instability, or the weight of memories they were never supported to process.

For many, the abuse was committed by people who should have offered protection: family members, caregivers, or trusted figures in the community. These experiences often happened in secrecy, during everyday moments that should have been safe. The confusion, fear, and silence surrounding the abuse can make healing feel overwhelming, even decades later.

This course offers a compassionate and supportive space for adult survivors who are ready to take the next step in their healing journey. It is designed to help you understand the emotional, psychological, and relational effects of childhood sexual abuse, not from a place of blame or pressure, but with gentleness and clarity. Through guided reflection, grounding practices, and trauma‑informed insights, you will begin reconnecting with the parts of yourself that were overshadowed by the abuse.

You will explore how the past has shaped your beliefs, behaviours, and relationships, and learn ways to rebuild a sense of safety, self‑worth, and inner stability. The course also encourages you to seek additional support, such as counselling or practical resources, so you can continue healing with the care you deserve.

Above all, this is a space where your story is honoured, your pace is respected, and your healing is possible. You are not alone, and you are not beyond repair. This journey is about reclaiming your life, your voice, and your sense of self - one compassionate step at a time.

Who this course is for:

Adults who experienced childhood sexual abuse, or have an inkling that it may have happened to them.
Adults who are experiencing triggers, flashbacks or suppressed memories from their childhood that are beginning to surface
Adults who have a difficult time with their anger for no obvious reasons
Partners of someone was has experienced childhood abuse.
Anyone who wants to know more and maybe help someone they know who opened up to telling them about their childhood

Restoring Your Sense of Self: Healing After Childhood Sexual

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 2min

What is sexual abuse and how does it occur4 lectures • 8min

Did the abuse really happen?4 lectures • 8min

Identifying the triggers and how you have coped with them4 lectures • 8min

Why does nobody say anything about what happened?2 lectures • 3min

Wanting to talk about it and seeking help6 lectures • 15min

Conclusion /Summary1 lecture • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: