Resources for Trauma Recovery and Community Support

Four people supporting each other, symbolizing resources for trauma recovery.

Welcome to Resources for Trauma Recovery and Healing—a carefully curated collection designed to support you wherever you are on your healing journey. Here you’ll find links to key blog categories that explore different aspects of trauma recovery, from emotional healing to boundary-setting. At the bottom of the page, you’ll discover a personal selection of resources supporting me in my recovery, including LGBTQ+ supports and crisis lines. This space is here to guide, empower, and remind you that you’re not alone.

Podcast Trauma Demystified

Trauma Demystified offers resources for trauma recovery for anyone who has experienced complex trauma, adults with childhood trauma, or is seeking to understand the healing process. Whether you’re on your own recovery journey or supporting someone who is, this resource provides accessible guidance and practical insights. Explore each episode to deepen your understanding and discover tools to support healing. Topics include what trauma is, how to create safety in adulthood after childhood trauma, and guidance on trauma counselling, parts work, and EMDR.

Crisis support in Canada

Experiencing a crisis can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Reaching out for help is a brave step and a sign of strength—not weakness. Support is available to help you navigate this challenging time, so please don’t hesitate to seek the care you deserve.

24/7 Crisis support in Canada

24/7 Crisis support in Calgary, AB

Crisis support for trans and non-binary individuals in Canada

Support after sexual assault

As a trauma therapist and survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I know firsthand how isolating it can feel to look for support after sexual assault — and how hard it can be to find people who truly understand. If you are ready to explore healing, I work with adult survivors of childhood and adult sexual abuse using an integrative, trauma-informed approach. You can learn more about what healing can look like in my article Healing Childhood Sexual Abuse: When the World Doesn’t Believe You or explore working together through my trauma counselling or trauma-informed coaching services.

If you are are looking for other support alongside it, the following organizations offer crisis support, counselling referrals, and advocacy across Canada and the US. There is no right way to begin. Trust yourself to choose what feels safe.

Organizations and legal resources for survivors of sexual assault

Organizations in Canada

National

Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres (CASAC) A pan-Canadian network of sexual assault centres working toward legal, social, and attitudinal change. Member centres offer counselling, crisis support, and advocacy for survivors. casac.ca

Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada (ESVA Canada) A national nonprofit providing a unified voice on sexual violence in Canada. Their Getting Help page maintains a detailed directory of sexual assault centres, crisis lines, and support services across all provinces and territories.

Canadian Centre for Child Protection National charitable organization dedicated to the personal safety of children and the prevention of childhood sexual abuse.

Alberta

Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS) Provides leadership and coordination on issues of sexual abuse and assault across Alberta, including a directory of local sexual assault centres.

Ontario

Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) A network of 30+ community-based sexual assault centres in Ontario offering counselling, crisis support, hospital and court accompaniment, and advocacy for survivors of recent and historical sexual violence.

Organizations in the United States

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) The largest anti-sexual violence organization in the US. Operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE) offering free, confidential 24/7 support by phone, chat, and text.

Resources for LGBTQ2+ individuals

Finding the support can make all the difference for queer folks. Below is a list of nonprofit organizations that provide resources, advocacy, and community for LGBTQ+ individuals. Whether you’re seeking mental health support or a welcoming space to connect, these groups are here to help.

Calgary Outlink

Outlink is Calgary’s centre for gender and sexual diversity. Their services include peer support and the 2SLGBTQ+ resource line You Matter.

Trevor Project (United States)

The Trevor Project is a non-profit suicide prevention organization that provides 24/7 crisis support services, research, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ young people.

Resources for trauma recovery

Please note that these resources for trauma recovery are only suggestions. Some may work for you, others may not. This doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with you. It just means that it is not a good resource for you right now. Experiment with the different resources and find out what works for you.

Guided imagery and affirmations

Guided Imagery for Posttraumatic Stress: Healing Trauma, Belleruth Naparstek
Guided Imagery to Ease Grief, Belleruth Naparstek
A Guided Meditation to Help you Relieve Depression, Belleruth Naparstek

Mindfulness and buddhist meditation

International Zen Association, Information about centers and retreats, http://www.zen-azi.org/
Mindfulness and the work of Thich Nhat, a vietnamist buddhist monk, his teachings and retreats: http://www.plumvillage.org/
Book explaining what you can find if you practice Zen meditation: “Zen and the art to love”, Dr. Brenda Shoshanna

Selected books

The following list includes books that I found helpful throughout my own healing journey. While most of them are available in English, some of them are only available in Spanish or German.

Kritsberg, Wayne. The Invisible Wound: A New Approach to Healing Childhood Sexual Abuse.

West, Cameron. First Person Plural: My Life As a Multiple – A memoir about a person living with Dissociative Identity Disorder. 

Dana, Deb. Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2020.

Paul, Margaret, and Erika J. Chopich. Das Arbeitsbuch zur Aussoehnung mit dem Inneren Kind [The Workbook for Reconciliation with the Inner Child]. Berlin: Ullstein Taschenbuch, 2005.

Schaefer, Thomas. Was die Seele krank macht und was sie heilt: Die psychotherapeutische Arbeit von Bert Hellinger [What Makes the Soul Ill and What It Heals: The Psychotherapeutic Work of Bert Hellinger]. Munich: Droemersche Verlagsanstalt Th. Knaur Nachf., 1997.

Thoele, Sue Patton. The Courage to Be Yourself: A Woman’s Guide to Emotional Strength and Self-Esteem

Kyle, Liisa. Self-Worth Essentials: A Workbook to Understand Yourself, Accept Yourself, Like Yourself, Respect Yourself, Be Confident, Enjoy Yourself and Love Yourself.

Castanyer, Olga. La asertividad: Expresión de una sana autoestima [Assertiveness: Expression of a Healthy Self-Esteem]. Bilbao, Spain: Editorial Desclée de Brouwer, S.A., 2004.

Riso, Walter. Los límites del amor: Como amar sin renunciar a ti mismo [The Limits of Love: How to Love Without Giving Up Yourself]. Barcelona: Editorial Planeta, 2009.

Hendrix, Harville. Keeping the Love You Find: A Single Person’s Guide to Achieving Lasting Love. London: Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 1995.

Noguchi, Yoshinori. La ley del espejo: Una regla mágica que da solución a cualquier problema en la vida [The Law of the Mirror: A Magic Rule to Solve Any Problem in Life]. Barcelona: Comanegra, 2009.

Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth. On Death and Dying. New York: Scribner, 1997. First published 1969 by Macmillan.

Kuebler-Ross, Elisabeth. Death: The Final Stage of Growth. New York: Simon and Schuster / Touchstone, 1986. First published 1975 by Prentice-Hall

Naparstek, Belleruth. Your Sixth Sense: Unlocking the Power of Your Intuition. New York: HaperCollins Publishers, 1997.

Orloff, Judith, M.D. Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life. New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2009.