If this happened to you, please hear this: it was not your fault.

Sexual abuse is any forced or inappropriate sexual contact, and it’s often committed by someone the survivor knows. If you’ve experienced it, you deserve to be believed, safe, and supported. This free guide, which opens with a trigger warning, gently walks through the types and warning signs of abuse, the steps to take afterward, and the path toward healing, for female and male survivors alike, and for anyone helping someone they love.

WHAT’S INSIDE

• What abuse and consent really mean, and why it’s never your fault
• The types and warning signs of sexual abuse
• A section specifically for male survivors
• The steps to take if you’ve been assaulted, recently or in the past
• Recovery tips and trusted resources, including RAINN
• A section on the hard question, “how could I ever forgive?”
• A survivors’ checklist to read over yourself
• A spiritual perspective on the God who grieves with you