Understanding the Silence Around Abuse: RACIS for Healing in Therapy
Why Does Abuse Often Go Unspoken?
Fear of Judgment: Survivors may worry about being judged or not being believed. This fear can be paralysing, preventing them from seeking the help they need.
Shame and Guilt: Feelings of shame or guilt are common among survivors. They might blame themselves for the abuse, making it difficult to open up about their experiences.
Emotional Trauma: The trauma from the abuse can be overwhelming. Reliving these experiences through conversation can be incredibly painful, leading many to avoid discussing them altogether.
Safety Concerns: Fear of retaliation or further harm from the abuser can keep survivors silent. This is especially true if the abuser is still in their life or has a significant amount of control over them.
Isolation: Abusers often isolate their victims, making it harder for them to seek help. This isolation can lead to a lack of support and resources, further silencing the survivor.
The RACIS Model in our Therapy
The RACIS Model offers a structured approach to help us to work through the silence and trauma:
Recognise: The first step is to help you recognise the impact of the abuse. This involves acknowledging your experiences and understanding how these experiences have shaped your emotions and behaviours. Recognition is crucial for validating your feelings and beginning the healing process.
Accept: Acceptance involves helping you come to terms with your past. This doesn’t mean condoning what happened but rather accepting that it happened and that it has affected you. Acceptance is a vital step in moving forward and letting go of self-blame and guilt.
Co-ordinate: This step focuses on the shift from thinking to doing. It involves helping you to co-ordinate your thoughts and actions to take practical steps towards healing. This might include developing coping strategies, setting goals, and taking actionable steps to improve your well-being.
Integrate: Integration involves helping you to integrate your past experiences into your current life in a healthy way. This means understanding how your past has influenced your present and finding ways to incorporate this understanding into your daily life without being overwhelmed by it.
Synthesise: The final step is synthesis, where you synthesise your experiences and insights gained through therapy. This involves creating a coherent narrative of your past and present, allowing you to move forward with a sense of wholeness and empowerment.
Understanding the silence around abuse is the first step in helping survivors heal. By addressing the underlying reasons for this silence and providing a safe, supportive environment, our therapy can assist your journey of healing from non-recent abuse, trauma, and unresolved historical difficulties. The RACIS Model offers a structured approach to this process, helping you to recognise, accept, co-ordinate, integrate, and synthesise your experiences.
If you or someone you know is struggling with these issues, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Healing is possible…