survivors,

this is your space.

I wish you didn’t have to be here. But here we are.

As a survivor writing this from the other side of the internet, know that I see you.

Sometimes it’s not that anyone tells us to “move on”—it’s that the world moves too quickly around us. What we really need is space to move through it.

Take Back Trust for Survivors was created for that space. For the people navigating their healthcare, their healing, and the pieces of themselves that don’t fit neatly into a follow-up visit or a form. Here, you’ll find clear, trauma-informed guidance and gentle reminders that your care still matters—and so do you.

  • I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.

    Carl Jung

  • What happened to you is part of your story, but it is not you. You are the one who kept going.

  • You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

    — Maya Angelou

  • Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.

    Kahlil Gibran

If you’ve just experienced sexual assault…

If this just happened, take a breath.
You don’t have to make every decision right now. You just need to know what your options are—
and that you still have them.

None of the paths below are the “right” one for everyone. What matters most is your comfort, your safety, and your control.

  • If you’re in danger or need medical help right now, it’s okay to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
    You deserve safety and care, no matter what happened or how long it’s been.

    If you’re safe but don’t know what to do next, you can reach out to RAINN’s 24-hour hotline (1-800-656-4673). The advocates who answer are trained to listen, believe you, and help you find a nearby hospital, clinic, or support program that understands what you’re going through. You don’t have to figure this out alone.

    You can also go to an emergency department, urgent care, or clinic for medical care. If possible, ask whether they have a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) on staff. These clinicians are specially trained to provide trauma-informed care and, if you choose, to collect evidence through a rape kit.

    You can say:

    “I was assaulted and I’d like to see a SANE nurse or someone trained in sexual-assault care.”

    If you think you might want an exam later, try—if you can—not to shower, change clothes, eat, or brush your teeth yet. Those actions can sometimes remove evidence. But if you’ve already done any of them, please know this: you can still get care.
    You can still be examined. You can still be believed.
    Evidence may still be collected, and your need for treatment and compassion never depends on what you did or didn’t do after the assault.

  • You don’t have to decide about reporting right away. You can receive care and still take time to think about what’s best for you.
    If you’re considering preserving evidence but not ready to report, some states allow anonymous or delayed rape kits, which means your name isn’t attached and you can decide later whether to file.

  • If you’ve experienced assault, you still have options for protecting your health.

    Hospitals, urgent care centers, and clinics can provide emergency contraception (like Plan B, Ella, or the copper IUD) and preventive medications to reduce the risk of STIs or HIV. These are most effective if started quickly—ideally within 72 hours.

    You don’t have to go to a hospital to take action right away. Plan B is available over the counter without a prescription at most pharmacies, major retailers, and some college health centers. Ella and the copper IUD require a prescription or visit, but telehealth options can often help with same-day access.

    Even if you’re already on birth control, taking emergency contraception is often recommended, just in case medication timing or absorption was affected.

  • You still have options.
    You can reach out to RAINN (1-800-656-4673) for confidential guidance and help finding a survivor-centered clinic nearby. Some community health centers and Planned Parenthood locations also provide confidential post-assault care without requiring police involvement.

  • You don’t have to go through this alone.

    • RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 (24/7, confidential)

    • VictimConnect: 1-855-484-2846 (text or call)

    • Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860

Trauma-Informed Healthcare, Explained

Trauma-informed care isn’t a special kind of medicine—
it’s a way of approaching care that understands how trauma can shape a person’s health, reactions, and needs.
It centers your safety, choice, and control.

  • Trauma-informed care means your provider recognizes that trauma is common and can affect how you experience your body, pain, and medical care.
    It’s about creating an environment where you feel safe, respected, and in control—no matter what your history is.

    A trauma-informed provider will:

    • Ask before they touch you and explain what they’re doing.

    • Give you choices during your exam.

    • Check in about how you’re feeling.

    • Welcome support people if you want someone in the room.

    • Respect boundaries without judgment or frustration.

    If you’ve ever felt unseen, rushed, or dismissed in a medical setting, trauma-informed care is what should have happened instead.

  • You don’t need a script to deserve compassion—but sometimes having the words helps.
    Here are a few ways to open the conversation:

    • “I have a history of trauma, and I do best when people tell me what they’re going to do before they do it.”

    • “Can we take things slowly today? I might need breaks during the exam.”

    • “It helps me to have someone in the room. Is that okay?”

    • “I’d like trauma-informed care. Can you tell me what that looks like in this clinic?”

    • If you’re not ready to share details, you don’t have to. You can keep it simple:

    • “I have some medical anxiety and I’d like to go step by step.”

  • When you schedule your appointment, it’s okay to ask:

    “Do any of your providers offer trauma-informed or survivor-centered care?”

    You can also ask what that looks like in practice—how exams are explained, whether support people are allowed, and if you’ll be able to pause or decline parts of a visit. Their response will tell you a lot.

    Once you’re there, trust what your body tells you in the first few minutes.
    Trauma-informed providers make eye contact, listen without interrupting, and never rush you through your story—or your silence. They explain procedures before starting and ask permission before touching you.

    Red flags might include:

    • Dismissive or minimizing responses (“You’re fine,” “This will just take a second”).

    • Ignoring your boundaries or requests for breaks.

    • Making you feel pressured, judged, or unsafe.

    If you notice any of these, you’re allowed to stop the visit, ask for someone else, or leave. You deserve care that makes you feel safe, not small.

  • If you need ongoing care or don’t feel safe returning to your current provider, you can look for clinics or organizations that explicitly mention trauma-informed or survivor-centered care.
    Start with:

    • RAINN’s provider directory

    • Planned Parenthood (many centers have trauma-informed clinicians)

    • The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)

    You can also ask when scheduling:

    “Do you have providers who offer trauma-informed or sexual-assault–trained care?”

    Your safety, comfort, and control are part of your treatment—not separate from it.

common questions about 
sexual assault and trauma informed care

Person in a gray cropped hoodie and ripped light blue jeans standing outdoors near palm trees.

🚨 Beware of Misinformation 🚨

Right now, far-right influencers and social media personalities are actively targeting young people with false and dangerous claims about birth control, abortion, and reproductive health. Many of these influencers are not medical professionals—they’re pushing an agenda, not facts.

Here’s what you need to know:

❌ Birth control is NOT harmful or unnatural. Contrary to what some influencers claim, hormonal birth control does not ruin your fertility, destroy your body, or make you “unattractive.” It is a safe, well-studied, and highly effective way to prevent pregnancy, manage health conditions like PCOS, and regulate periods.

❌ Abortion is NOT dangerous. The overwhelming majority of abortions (both medication and procedural) are safer than childbirth and backed by decades of research. Anyone telling you otherwise is either misinformed or lying.

❌ Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) are NOT real medical clinics. These anti-choice organizations disguise themselves as healthcare providers but spread misinformation and try to shame people out of getting abortions or birth control. Learn how to spot and avoid them [here] (insert link).

❌ Sex education is NOT a conspiracy. Teaching young people about their bodies, consent, and contraception does NOT “promote promiscuity.” It empowers you to make safe, informed choices—no one benefits from keeping you in the dark.

💡 Before you believe a claim about birth control, abortion, or reproductive health, ask:
✔ Is this coming from a real medical professional?
✔ Does this source cite actual medical studies?
✔ Is this person trying to scare or shame me?

The bottom line? Far-right influencers are pushing an agenda—they don’t care about your health. Get your info from real medical experts, not people trying to control your choices. We’ll help you find the facts and the care you deserve.

How You Can Take Action

✔ Know Your Rights. Every state has different laws about birth control, abortion, and confidential healthcare. Check out our Know Your Rights guide here to find out what applies to you.

✔ Speak Up. Whether it’s in your classroom, on social media, or in your community, talk about reproductive rights. Misinformation thrives when no one pushes back.

✔ Find & Share Reliable Info. We’re happy to be a reliable resource for you and your friends!

✔ Advocate for Better Sex Ed. If your school’s curriculum isn’t teaching you what you need to know, you’re not alone. Push for change. Groups like Advocates for Youth help teens fight for better education.

✔ Support Your Friends. If someone you know is facing a tough reproductive health decision, listen, support, and help them find the care they need—without shame or stigma.

✔ Vote & Stay Informed. Even if you’re not old enough to vote yet, you can still help register others, volunteer for pro-choice candidates, and stay engaged. What happens today shapes your future.

Thank You for Being Here

You deserve to make your own choices about your body and future. Whether you’re here to learn, get involved, or support a friend, you are part of this movement. Your voice, your advocacy, and your choices matter.

Play around on the site. Learn about your contraceptive options, learn about what’s going on in the current reproductive landscape, and if you’ve got any questions - reach out here!

Young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the change-makers of today.

🚧 We’re Building This Out 🚧

There’s a lot going on, and we know it’s not always easy to find reliable and informative information about your own healthcare or figure out how to support your friends, partners, and communities. It can be a scary and overwhelming landscape, it can feel like too much to handle. But you do have power and we’re here to help you learn how to navigate your reproductive healthcare in the midst of this crazy world.

This page is growing with tools, resources, and actions made just for you—whether you want to learn more, help a friend, or stand up for your rights.

Have ideas about what would be helpful? We want to hear from you!

Drop us a message here.