CIS'ters provides emotional support for females age 18+ who, as female children, were sexually abused within a family environment.
Within this podcast we explore the topic around the sensitivity needed, in raising public awareness of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence. We discuss the importance of this topic and how it has changed over the years.  
We take part in the National Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness WEEK – which in 2023 is 6th – 12th February. To find out more about this important campaign, please click on the link below. – 
https://sexualabuseandsexualviolenceawarenessweek.org       
www.cisters.org.uk we also deliver training for professionals.

CIS'ters provides emotional support for females age 18+ who, as female children, were sexually abused within a family environment.

Within this podcast we explore the topic of self-help materials, such as journals, which many adult survivors use as part of their ongoing journey and a reminder to be mindful of issues such as confidentiality.

Information is on our website www.cisters.org.uk we also deliver training for professionals.

Introducing Kate Davies CBE talking about the importance of NHS England to victims or survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Podcast covers specific prevention and response strategy including input from CIS’ters. Featuring CIS’ters trustees Eileen and Gillian. For more information about NHSE go to https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/strategic-direction-for-sexual-assault-and-abuse-services/

Within CIS'ters, as survivors, we know that many victim/survivors of sexual crimes experience heightened fear and anxiety when accessing midwifery services. In this podcast Kathryn Gutteridge, a past president of the Royal College of Midwives, shares with us how we can help midwives to help us as victims of sexual abuse accessing services and also, importantly, how her own personal insights have assisted in her practice as a midwife and also raising awareness.
For further information please see: https://cisters.org.uk/the-impact/pregnancy-birth-gynaecological-and-obstetric-issues/

When you are finding life heavy going, it can be a good idea to put together a play list of uplifting music. 

In years past, this may have been on a CD. But all sorts of technology can be brought in here, from smart speakers to phones, spotify through to amazon music.

Everyone has different tastes in music, but for this sort of of activity you need to find music that has a purposeful beat and meaningful words. 

This episode introduces the listener to the concept of warrior music to help survivors of sexual abuse, but also anyone who has experienced trauma. 

Loss is a concept explored with the different perspective of the survivor of sexual abuse in mind.

Clever insight into the experiences of loss, the differing circumstances and ways forward are discussed. 

If you would like to know more, please see our website: www.cisters.org.uk

The Window of Tolerance is a idea developed by Dan Siegal. He suggested we all have 3 key states. 

There is the optimum layer, where you are able to exert self control and everything is manageable. This is the like the middle layer of a sandwich. 

The top of the sandwich is where you are very hyped up, buzzing, out of control. The lower layer is where you feel zoned out, withdrawn maybe numb.

If you have a large optimum layer you cope better in life and do not easily zoom into the over stimulated layer or fall through into the zoned out layer. 

This podcast explains the WOT in detail and ways of increasing your optimum layer.

Episode 28 – Adverse Childhood Experiences

This podcast explores the issue of ACEs and how important it is to build resilience in children and adult survivors.  Plus signpost https://cisters.org.uk/the-impact/adverse-childhood-experiences-ace/ - but our key message is that no one should be stigmatised by the number of ACEs they have experienced as a child. The focus is on how resilient individuals are, or can be helped to be.  Some adult survivors are incredibly resilient and others less so – understanding how to improve resilience is the focus, as children and as adults. Our next podcast is on something called The Window Of Tolerance and these two episodes are linked.