Here at Salt we call ourselves Listeners regardless of our professional or personal
backgrounds, because each volunteer brings their own unique life experiences and
skills, because our most important role is not to advise, direct, or judge, but to listen.
We provide a safe and supportive space where you can speak openly, knowing that
your experiences will be heard with compassion, respect, and understanding.
Our Men’s Service is for men aged 18 and over who experienced sexual abuse
during childhood (up to the age of 16).
We support male survivors regardless of who abused them, how often it happened,
where it happened, or the type of sexual abuse they experienced.
How we work
Healing from childhood sexual abuse looks different for everyone. At SALT, we don’t
ask you the adult to relive your trauma or return to a place where you felt powerless.
Instead, we focus on helping you the adult you are today to become an adult to feel
stronger, safer and better equipped to enable the younger parts of self to have their
voice understand and heal the impact of what happened in them in the past.
We enable the younger parts to come to the adult with a bit at a time enabling them
to have their voice and regain their power which was taken from them. We use lots
of tools to help you with this which you will gain from completing the four
psychoeducational group skills sessions.
Our support is offered face-to-face, and all sessions are facilitated by two trained
Listeners — one male and one female. We will explain more about this when we
meet.
What to expect
First an informal introduction
Your first step can be a telephone call or an informal visit if you would find that
helpful. You can come in, have a coffee, see the building, meet a couple of Listeners
and ask any questions you may have. Also, we will explain the process of how we
work at SALT. There are no pressure and no expectation to talk about anything you
are not ready to discuss.
Assessment
If you are happy with the informal meeting and feel salt is right for you and decide to
continue, we will invite you to a friendly assessment meeting. This helps us
understand your situation, explain our service in more detail where you will get our
GPDR polices & procedures which will be explained to you and make sure SALT is
the right support for you. Your confidentiality is importance to us at salt.
Psychoeducational Skills Sessions
When you have had your assessment your next step before your personal 2:1s
sessions begin, you will attend four psychoeducational group skills sessions in a
small group setting.
These are not group therapy sessions. You will never be asked to share personal
details of your abuse or trauma.
The sessions focus on understanding the effects of trauma, learning practical coping
skills including nightmare & flashbacks, dissociation, PAC model (Transactional
Analysis), window of tolerance, imagery, journaling and lots more tools helping you
feel more prepared for your personal 2:1s sessions. Groups are small, with a
maximum of six participants, helping everyone feel safe and comfortable.
Personal Listening Sessions
After completing all four skills sessions, you will be offered your personal 2:1s
sessions, with up to 21 sessions. These are usually provided in blocks of seven
sessions. Every seventh session you will do an evaluation and have an opportunity
to reflect on your progress with your Listeners and decide together whether you
would like to continue, or take a break.
Some men contact us with one specific issue they would like support with and may
not need the full programme. We will always discuss your individual needs and work
with you to find the most appropriate support for you.
Understanding the Challenges Men Face
Many men tell us they have struggled for years before reaching out for help.
You may have worries such as:
Feeling you should have been able to stop what happened. Shame, confusion or
questions about your reactions to the abuse.
Concerns about anger, aggression or how the abuse has affected you. Fear of being
judged or misunderstood.
These thoughts and feelings are common among male survivors, and you will be met
with understanding, respect and compassion.
Referrals
We accept self-referrals from adult men aged 18 and over who experienced sexual
abuse before the age of 16.
Phone: 01752 600599
Email: gary@saltsouthwest.co.uk
Mobile (text only – incoming calls not accepted): 07469200256
You can contact us directly by phone, email or text. We do not accept referrals from
third parties.
Once we hear from you, we will arrange either an informal telephone conversation
with you or an informal meeting here at salt depending on your preference.
Important Information
There are some situations where we may not be able to offer active trauma support
immediately.
This includes:
If there is an ongoing police investigation or court case relating to your abuse or any
abusive offending behaviour.
If you are currently receiving another form of therapy that may conflict with our
service.
If this applies to you, we will discuss your options and help you access the most
appropriate support available.
You Don’t Have to Face This Alone
Taking the first step can feel difficult, but you do not have to carry the impact of
childhood sexual abuse on your own.
When you are ready, we are here to listen.
The team here at SALT Southwest (Sexual Abuse Listening Therapy) is rooted in
Christian faith. It’s the driving force behind why we do this work and why we are
dedicated to supporting survivors. But we want to be 100% clear about something:
This space is for every man, no matter what you believe.
Whether you have a different religion, no religion at all, or are just trying to figure life
out, you are entirely welcome here. We are here strictly to help you process trauma
and find your way forward. We will never ‘bible-bash,’ judge you, or push our own
religious beliefs onto you. In fact, we won’t even bring up faith or religion unless you
mention it and ask us about it first.
You can safely drop your guard here. Our only focus is giving you a solid,
confidential space to be heard
Please use the form below to get in touch and we will contact you for an informal chat