Therapy for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Healing is possible. Our specialist psychologist offers a safe, confidential space to process trauma at your own pace, without judgement, and entirely on your terms.
What is therapy for childhood sexual abuse survivors?
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is any sexual act or behaviour directed at a child by an adult or older person. Its effects can echo across a lifetime — shaping how you relate to yourself, to others, and to your own body.
Therapy for CSA survivors is a specialised form of trauma-focused psychotherapy. It is not about revisiting the past for its own sake. It is about helping you understand how your experiences have shaped you, releasing the weight you may have been carrying for years, and building a life that feels more fully your own.
Many survivors have never spoken about their experiences before. Our psychologist is trained to work sensitively with disclosure and to move only as quickly as you feel ready.
Addresses the unhelpful thought patterns and behavioural responses that develop in the wake of abuse, helping you build more grounded, compassionate ways of thinking about yourself and your experiences.
Particularly suited to survivors with complex, long-standing effects. Helps identify the deep-rooted emotional patterns established in childhood and works to meet the needs that were not met at the time.
Directly addresses the shame and self-criticism that so often characterise CSA survivors' internal world. Helps build a compassionate relationship with yourself — often for the first time.
Trauma lives in the body. Somatic techniques complement talk therapy by helping you reconnect with bodily sensations safely and develop greater tolerance of physical experience.
Because no two survivors are the same, your therapist draws flexibly on multiple frameworks — always guided by what serves your healing best at each stage of the therapeutic process.
Dr. Adela Mrkaljevic
Dr. Mrkaljevic is a fully qualified and HCPC-registered clinical psychologist with specialist training and experience in complex and developmental trauma, including childhood sexual abuse.
She brings a warm, non-directive, and deeply respectful approach. Her practice is grounded in the understanding that healing from abuse requires a therapeutic relationship built on genuine trust, consistency, and the belief that your experience is entirely valid.
Sessions are available in person at our London clinic, or via secure video, whatever feels most comfortable and accessible to you.
£119 
FreeFAQs
Do I have to talk about what happened in detail?
No. You are always in control of what you share and when. Many effective trauma therapies — including EMDR — do not require you to narrate events in detail. Your therapist will never push you beyond what feels safe.
What if I'm not sure whether what happened to me counts as abuse?
You don't need a label or certainty about your past to seek support. If your experiences have caused you distress and are affecting your life, that is enough reason to come. Your therapist will not ask you to prove anything.
I've tried therapy before and it didn't help. Will this be different?
It may be. Trauma therapy requires a specialist approach — not all therapists are trained in complex or developmental trauma. Dr. Mrkaljevic's practice is specifically shaped around the needs of CSA survivors, and she works at a pace that is led entirely by you.
Is everything I say confidential?
Yes, with very limited legal exceptions. Dr. Mrkaljevic will explain the confidentiality framework clearly in your first session so that you can make fully informed decisions about what you share.
Do you offer online sessions?
Yes. Therapy is available via secure video call. Many survivors find online sessions helpful as they allow you to access support from a space where you already feel safe.
How long will therapy take?
There is no fixed timeline. The effects of childhood sexual abuse are often complex and long-standing, and healing is rarely linear. Your therapist will review progress with you regularly and therapy continues for as long as it remains helpful.