13 January 2026, 14.30-16.30 CEST

Webinar Improving Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence Within Domestic Abuse Services - Laois Domestic Abuse Service project “Healing & Hope”

by Caroline Crowley

Caroline Crowley, researcher, will present the outcomes of Healing & Hope, an innovative project designed to strengthen specialist responses to sexual violence within the context of domestic and intimate partner abuse. Many women who seek support for domestic violence also experience sexual violence, yet disclosures often remain hidden due to fear, shame, trauma, or the absence of safe and specialised local services. This project set out to change that.

Healing & Hope

Through a dedicated therapeutic programme, collaborative engagement with partner organisations, and the voices of the women who participated, Healing & Hope creates a safer space for survivors to speak openly about sexual violence and to access meaningful, trauma-informed support. The project demonstrates how domestic abuse services can integrate specialised sexual violence responses that acknowledge the complexity of survivors’ experiences and improve their pathways to healing, safety, and recovery.

Tailored therapeutic support

Across the intervention, participants were offered tailored therapeutic support, including EMDR, CBT, and psychoeducation, delivered within a trauma-informed framework. Their insights and lived realities provide a powerful foundation for stronger, more responsive services in County Laois. The project also underlines the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration—bringing together community organisations, statutory services, and local professionals to build a more coherent support ecosystem for survivors.

Healing & Hope highlights the need to recognise and address sexual violence within partner abuse as a critical part of ensuring survivor safety, wellbeing, and justice. It also shows that when services create space, trust, and specialised care, survivors are far more able to disclose, seek help, and rebuild control over their lives.

This project was made possible through the financial support of the European Commission, funded via EFJCA’s regranting mechanism, enabling LDAS to further develop its expertise and contribute to broader European efforts to improve responses to gender-based and sexual violence.

Registration

Registration is free. Language is English.