HOW TO HELP A FRIEND

• Listen. Do not ask a lot of prying questions. Let your friend take her/his time to share the details.
• Believe. People rarely make up stories about being sexual assaulted. Don’t express skepticism. Expect a friend in crisis to be confused and don't criticize.
• Do NOT Blame. Reinforce that your friend is not to blame. Remember that whatever your friend did to survive the attack was exactly what he or she needed to do.
• Empower. Help your friend understand and consider her/his options (medical, legal, psychological), but let her/him decide what action to take.
• Encourage. Support your friend by encouraging her/him to get the medical attention, even if she/he are not going to press charges.
• Share. Educate your friend about the common reactions to sexual assault to help normalize their experience.
• Be patient. Recovery from sexual assault trauma is slow. Let the person proceed at their own pace.
• Support. Assure your friend that you will be available to provide support throughout the process of recovery.
• Know Your Limits. There are times where professional help is best. A trained therapist may be essential to helping your friend work through the assault and resume more effective coping.
• Get support. You may have strong feelings about the trauma. If needed, seek counseling for yourself.

To schedule an appointment you can call 410-704-2512 or stop by the Counseling Center Reception Desk. Our office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.