Blog

As a clinician we look at the impacts of trauma in a person’s life. While there is a bearing witness to painful experiences, there is also an amazing privilege that we get to watch. This includes the discovery and existence of great resiliency realized at a deeper measure. Fashioned from the most difficult of places can emerge what is known as Post Traumatic Growth. “Posttraumatic Growth (PTG)-, defined as positive psychological change experienced as a result of adversity and

What are norms? Often, when our Prevention team connects with community partners, we hear answers such as, “things that are normal!”...

Dear Friends of SARA, In lieu of a Letter from the Director, this month I am sharing with you an article written by Kristi VanAudenhove, Executive Director of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, and Karrie Delaney, Virginia State Representative. Quote from "Supporting sexual and domestic violence survivors is essential work" by Kristi VanAudenhove and Karrie Delaney: "The average Virginian doesn’t think about sexual and domestic violence agencies in th

There are many events and opportunities to engage with SARA throughout April and beyond! We hope to see you at some of these events....

Although Black History Month and Valentine’s Day end in February, we cannot stop learning about the experience people of color continue...

Grounding is a particularly useful skill in the treatment of trauma and its symptoms.

Dear Friends of SARA, Like many of you, my attention has been drawn to the war in Ukraine the last several days. We are a world in...

This month’s volunteer spotlight is on Hotline Volunteer Mia Gale. Mia became a hotline volunteer almost exactly a year ago. Since...

The Parent Council is made up of parents who are committed to supporting other parents and caregivers in our community. This April, look...

Greetings! It is finally not January! Between snowstorms and Omicron, January felt like it had 62 days instead of 31. It’s February 2 and...

This month’s volunteer spotlight is on Hotline Volunteer Emily Woodworth. Since becoming a volunteer in in November of 2020, Emily has...

All SARA staff and hotline volunteers attend a 40-hour crisis services training. The training consists of lectures, small group...

Everyone can take steps to prevent child sexual abuse. By educating yourself about child sexual abuse, you are already taking steps to...

Dear Friends of SARA, Happy New Year! The last few years that common well-wish has been fraught with more nervous anticipation, as if the...

The last couple of years have been rough and it can be really challenging to take care of yourself when there’s so much stress happening...

Support. What does that look like and how do we respond when someone has been hurt or harmed? We know that sexual trauma is an abnormal experience not meant to be imposed on people. Therefore, it is completely normal to be left with varying feelings, confusions, and questions on how to respond. While each survivor’s experience and response are unique to them, there are some overall ways in which one can be a support. Safety/Physical Needs Survivors may have safety and medical

In addition to supporting survivors, SARA supports secondary survivors as well. If you are supporting a loved one who is healing from a...

We just sent out our winter holiday card to folks that donated the last few years and wanted to share the message here as well.

SARA's 2nd Annual Giving Tuesday Auction Bidding begins on November 30th, 2021 at 8:00 am Bidding ends December 8th, 2021...

You may have heard that we have a 24/7 crisis hotline. Calling a hotline can be a very scary experience,…