Holding Space Together: Our Monthly Virtual Sexual Trauma Support Group

At Salute Her UK (SHUK), healing is never a solitary journey. We are a pioneering charity dedicated to supporting women veterans, military women, and women at sea, especially those navigating the aftermath of sexual trauma. Our work is rooted in trauma-informed care, creative empowerment, and peer-led support, offering safe spaces where dignity, agency, and hope are restored.

Every month, women from across the world gather in a virtual circle to share space in our sexual trauma support group. Led by one of SHUK’s experienced mental health therapists, this group offers more than just a meeting. It’s a sanctuary, a place where survivors are seen, heard, and held with compassion. Here, stories unfold without judgment, and healing begins in community.

This group is part of a wider ecosystem of care at SHUK, which includes:

• Creative programmes like art, writing, and comic-making to help women reclaim their voice

• Peer support training, enabling survivors to lead healing circles and mentor others

• Therapeutic services tailored to the unique experiences of women in service

• Advocacy initiatives that challenge stigma and drive policy change around military sexual trauma

At SHUK, we believe that healing is a radical act of courage, and no woman should have to walk that path alone.

What Happens in the Group?

Held once a month via a secure online platform, the group is facilitated by a trauma-informed therapist who gently guides the session with compassion and care. Each gathering is shaped by the women who attend; some speak, some listen, some simply sit with the presence of others who understand.

There’s no pressure to share. No expectation to explain. Just a space where survivors can be witnessed, validated, and supported.

            “This group gave me permission to speak the truth—and still be loved.”

Sexual trauma, especially within military and maritime contexts, can leave deep, complex wounds. Many women carry these experiences silently for years, unsure where to turn or who will truly understand. This group was created to break that silence.

Here, survivors are not asked to relive their trauma. Instead, they are invited to reclaim their voice, their agency, and their sense of safety. Through gentle conversation, grounding exercises, and peer connection, healing begins, not in isolation, but in community.

Who Is It For?

This group is open to women veterans, military women, and women at sea who have experienced sexual trauma. Whether your experience was recent or decades ago, whether you’ve spoken about it before or never have, you are welcome.

You don’t need to be “ready.” You just need to be present.

What Makes It Different?

• Trauma-Informed Facilitation – Our therapist understands the impact of trauma and creates a space that is safe, non-judgmental, and empowering.

• Peer Connection – You’ll be among women who’ve walked similar paths. There’s strength in shared understanding.

• Creative & Gentle Tools – Sessions may include grounding techniques, journaling prompts, or visual storytelling, always optional, always supportive.

“I didn’t know how much I needed to be seen until someone looked at me with kindness.”

What We Explore Together

Each session offers a safe, confidential space to explore themes that often go unspoken. Topics are guided by the needs of the group and may include:

• Victim Blaming & Internalised Shame
  Unpacking harmful narratives and reclaiming truth. You are not to blame.

• Navigating Guilt & Self-Blame
  Understanding trauma responses and learning to offer yourself compassion.

• Building Confidence & Reclaiming Identity
  Small steps toward self-worth, voice, and personal power.

• Safety Planning & Boundaries
  Practical tools for emotional and physical safety, both online and offline.

• Understanding Trauma Responses
  Why we freeze, fawn, or dissociate, and how to gently reconnect with ourselves.

• Peer Support & Connection
  Learning from each other, holding space, and building trust in the community.

• Creative Expression & Grounding Techniques
  Optional activities like journaling, visual storytelling, or breathwork to support healing.

How to Join

If you’re interested in attending, reach out to Salute Her UK via our website or email. We’ll provide details on upcoming dates, how to register, and what to expect. You can join with your camera on or off, speak or stay silent. Your presence is enough.

You are not alone. You are not to blame. You are not invisible.
In this group, your story matters, and so do you.

“We don’t fix each other. We hold space, and that’s enough.”