Healing from Trauma

You Are Not Alone 

You can talk to a counsellor, call a distress line or get peer-to-peer support. We can make a referral for you to receive counselling through Toronto Metropolitan University or with an external community resource. We can explore with you what resources would be helpful for you both on and off-campus. Two resources on campus are:

• The Centre for Student Development and Counselling: They provides confidential, on-campus, individual and group counselling. 416-979-5195
• Toronto Metropolitan Medical Centre: You can obtain medical attention at the Toronto Metropolitan Medical Centre during regular business hours but they cannot provide specialized sexual assault care. They can test for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy. If necessary, referrals to local hospitals or specialists can be arranged. Payment through OHIP or a similar out-of province insurance plan is required. 416-979-5070

Self-Care is a Radical Act

Self-Care is ways we nourish ourselves. It doesn't mean we don't recognize the way systems directly impede our ability to show up for ourselves i.e. capitalism, racism, colonialism. 

Here are free, online resources that you can access for more self-care information and activities. Look further down this page for more ideas about how you can practice self-care. 

• Healing, Pleasure, and Sex After Trauma Resources (external link) 
• Choosing Your Own Path of Survivorship (external link) 
• Youth Surviving and Thriving. Many Paths to Healing (external link) 
•  (PDF file) Caring for Yourself is a Radical Act (external link) 
• 4 Ways to Overcome Self-Blame After Sexual Assault (external link) 
• Trauma Stewardship - The Effects of Hearing Difficult Information (external link)  (Video)
• Self Care for Friends and Family of Survivors (external link) 
• Women's College Hospital Self Care Package (external link, opens in new window) 

You Voice Matters

There are many ways to have your voice heard about sexual violence and gender-justice. Speaking out can be empowering for some survivors if and when you are ready. Alternatively, you may choose to tell no one, tell only yourself, share your story in your self-help group, or confide in trusted friends or family. Anything you choose to survive is powerful and is your choice.

There are many ways to take action on campus through group programming, advisories, workshops and events including joining the Consent Action Team, our peer leadership program. Learn more ways to get involved on our Take Action Page. Have your own project idea or campaign? Reach out to Consent Comes First we would love to work with you. 

You Get to Define What Justice Means to You

Justice can look different for each of us. Some of us will tell no one, some of us still need to tell ourselves, some of us will want to share with close friend and some of us will want the world to know. We may report right away and some of us may wait for years before telling anyone. Some of us may choose to go to the police and some of us may choose to use alternatives like transformative justice. We get to choose what happens next. 

People may judge the choices we make or have to make. But no one knows your experience better than you. Reporting to the police is only one option of a multitude of choices, and for many survivors from marginalized, criminalized and policed communities, it may not be a viable option. Our social location including but not limited to race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability, impacts not only the way we are targeted for sexual violence but how we can access support and if we are believed. Use this guide to gather the information you need to decide what works for you. Remember whatever choice you make, it’s your decision.

Connect with us if you want to explore your options osvse@torontomu.ca. You can also check our Reporting page that gives options for both internal and external reporting. If you are interested in transformative justice you can learn more about it in the Creative Interventions Toolkit (external link) , read Dreaming Accountability  (external link)  by Mia Mingus, The Peak Magazine, Transformative justice issue (external link)  By: The Peak Magazine (various authors). Recommended articles: “Relationship tools” (Erica Horechka, pp. 23-26); “On accountability: The role of choice” (Micah Hobbes-Frazier, pp. 27-28).

Your Body Your Choice

If you have been recently sexually assaulted, you may want to seek medical attention. This is a free service that you can go to be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) or pregnancy as well as document any of the harm your body was subjected to. It's important to note that you are not obligated to reported to report to the police if you receive medical attention. Consent Comes First staff can support you by helping to connect you to services and attending appointments with you where possible. Learn more on our Getting Medical Attention page. 

Healing Comes in Waves is a podcast for survivors to explore healing after harm. Too often, the conversation about sexual violence focuses on what was done to us but not how we choose to heal. 

This season we talk to survivors, educators, and advocates about how to attend to feelings, make connections and figure out what justice means to us. Listen to Healing Comes in Waves here: https://www.torontomu.ca/sexual-violence/education/healing-comes-in-waves/