Wes Woodland
Counsellor
Counselling for Male & Non-Binary Survivors of Abuse
If you’re a man or non-binary person who has experienced childhood sexual abuse or trauma, you may feel isolated, misunderstood, or unsure where to turn. Many survivors carry heavy feelings of shame, confusion, or guilt. You are not alone, and you deserve support, healing, and relief from what was done to you.
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, you might:
- Be haunted by painful memories of the abuse
- Have angry outbursts to seemingly mundane experiences
- Question whether the abuse made you straight/bi/gay/queer
- Struggle to connect with other men
- Try to achieve unrealistic goals to ‘make up’ for what happened
- Feel like you’re less of a man, or like your manhood/masculinity has been taken from you
- Be flooded with feelings of guilt and shame
- Promise to take ‘this secret’ to your grave
- Overcompensate by portraying an ‘alpha male’ image
- Be excessively drinking or using other substances ‘just to feel normal’
- Find yourself unable to commit to long-term relationships, despite wanting to
- Be engaging in sexual behaviours you’re uncomfortable with
- Be disturbed by the amount of porn you consume and/or the type of porn you’re viewing
- Find it difficult to reach out for support
These are not personal failings. They are natural responses to trauma that can be worked through in therapy.
How Counselling Can Help You
As a trauma-informed counsellor in Dorset, I offer a safe, confidential space where we can work together to:
- Make sense of what happened to you in your own time and at your own pace
- Debunk myths about male and non-binary survivors of sexual abuse
- Explore how your beliefs about identity, sexuality, and relationships may have been shaped by trauma
- Understand and reframe coping strategies, while building new tools for living with greater ease and self-compassion
- Support family members or friends who wish to better understand what their loved one might be going through
Counselling can help you rebuild trust in yourself and others, reconnect with your sense of self, and begin to live with more freedom and less burden.
Get In Touch
I have experience with supporting male and non-binary survivors of abuse and trauma. My work is grounded in compassion, respect, and honesty, offering a space where you can explore what feels most difficult without the fear of judgement.
You don’t have to face this alone.
Book your free consultation today to find out how counselling could support your healing.
Alternatively, if you’d like to learn more about why I do this work, you can read my story here.
