SiT Overview

We support anyone who has experienced sexual abuse in childhood, through a range of trauma informed, psycho-educational activities including one to one and group therapy, counselling, advocacy, research and training to become empowered, improve their self esteem and resilience and make sense of their world. We take referrals from throughout Suffolk.

Our targeted, individually centred provision operates within 3 key strategic areas:

1. Services & Support. Direct therapeutic work (includes 1:1 trauma focused therapy and counselling, targeted group work, upholding calls, face to face, phone and online support, and peer support.
2. Impact & Influence (campaigning, public and professional awareness, feeding into key local, regional and national strategy and decision making, annual research projects, conferences and workshops and training for professionals).
3. Developing & Strengthening the Charity (Continually reviewing our strategies, using the most efficient systems and investing in robust governance).

We have a base in Ipswich although we work in a hybrid way, most of our sessions take place online or over the phone.

All referrals undergo a robust assessment so we can work with the individual to devise a support plan that’s right for the individual and includes them at every point. Everyone is different and healing is not a linear process.

What is SiT?

Survivors in Transition (SiT) was started as a voluntary organisation back in May 2010 to address the lack of specialist support available in Suffolk for adult survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA).

SiT started out by offering a coffee morning for female survivors to come together and share experiences and support one another and has grown and developed steadily, responding to user identified need.

We became a registered charity in November 2011 (1144655) and took the decision in 2015 to transfer to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) 1159782. We now offer many targeted group sessions per week, telephone, email and online support as well as a specialist counselling and trauma informed therapy service – currently delivered by a combination of paid staff, sessional therapists and volunteers.

There is a high demand on our service but we will work very hard to get a service in place for you as soon as possible. This will start with an assessment to determine your needs and understand you experience of support so far. We operate a tiered triage system to ensure those experiencing a high level of need currently receive a service as soon as possible. We manage our waiting list dynamically to ensure that survivors wait as short a time as possible for a service.

What is SiT?

We work to a 3 phase response to trauma, Dr. Pierre Janet conceived of a phased framework of trauma recovery in the late 1800’s with Dr. Judith Herman making it more readily known in her groundbreaking book, Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence (1992).

This consists of:

1. Safety / Stabilisation. Before we can do start to deal with the abuse you experienced we need to ensure you are safe, have a supportive network and understand the impact of your abuse. We will most likely offer you our Hold Fast programme either 1:1 or in a group with other survivors – depending on your preference.
2. Trauma work (also known as Remembrance and Mourning). This will most often take the form of trauma informed therapy or counselling sessions or a recommended group therapy programme. 
3. Reconnection & Integration. This may take place through therapy or through referrals to other organisations or other activities.

Our online and in person interventions include: 

• 1:1 counselling and therapy (all trauma focused) 
• Online and phone support and advice as required 
• Stabilisation and self esteem programme ("Hold Fast" which has been coproduced with survivors to prepare for therapy and increase self esteem, feelings of safety and identify additional support) 
• Targeted, facilitated group sessions including:
  • Specific gender groups 
  • Peer support groups and workshops 
  • Support for partners / carers of survivors