Beyond Therapy 2025

One of the greatest challenges of learning to live life alongside experiences of sexual abuse is managing the mental health impacts. Every day, young victims and survivors navigate trauma symptoms like anxiety, depression, and PTSD – all too often on their own. Currently, mental health care services focus on the medicalisation of trauma experiences; some are not appropriately trauma-informed, too short term, and too often accompanied by a long wait to talk to someone individually.
Outside of specialist services, practitioners worry about responding to disclosures of abuse and how to support survivors. Yet the latest research says that the type of support provided isn’t what makes the biggest difference – it’s about choice. This could be different needs at different times – a long-term talking therapy, a creative group, learning boxing or how to play the drums really loud! Healing is found in building relationships of trust, and connecting people with shared experiences together can be as beneficial in creating change as one-to-one therapy.
Our 2025 Beyond Therapy Festival will explore what healing means. Join us, as we bring together young survivor voices with the latest research and best practice and creative responses, so that we can consider together what effective community support for mental health looks like.