The Healing Project
Normalizing the conversation around healing after sexual trauma.
A collaborative social project between J.Drews & The Community Company.
TW: Sexual violence.
Why is it so uncomfortable to talk about?
1 in 3 Canadian women and 1 in 8 Canadian men will experience sexual violence in their lifetime.
The majority of Canadians personally know someone who has been sexually assaulted, and sexual violence is the only violent crime in Canada that is not declining.
So. Why is it so uncomfortable to talk about?
“I’m not yet a survivor. I’m not still a victim. I’m not sure what that makes me. So I dressed up in second hand clothes. Second hand love. Second hand pain. To try on second hand empathy.”
Starting the conversation
We’ve partnered with three individuals who have experienced sexual trauma to bravely share their healing journey with us. Our hope is that the stories provide you insight into the complexities of dealing with trauma.
If we want to truly support our community, we need to understand the different ways people deal with trauma and understand how to be emotionally available for them.
If we are ‘ready’ to begin our healing journey, we need to understand how to choose safe and healthy ways to do it.
“Today, I cried, driving to the grocery store, for no other reason, other than, I remembered.”
The Healing Project
We created The Healing Project to break the ice. And to start a conversation.
It shouldn’t be this difficult for people overcoming sexual trauma to talk about it, and if someone trusts you and disclosures their trauma with you, it doesn’t have to be an uncomfortable conversation.
Our goal is to make our community more aware about sexual trauma, to provide comfort for those overcoming trauma, and to create a meaningful product that continues the conversation beyond this website and into the real world.
Proceeds from every product sale are equally shared with the Creators and equally shared between our charity partners.
How to Support
There are three ways you can support The Healing Project and help us normalize the conversation.
About Sexual Trauma
Here are a few things everyone in our community needs to know about sexual trauma.
The information below was shared by survivors of sexual assault and from a Sexual Assault Counsellor.
Listen and be available
A way to support is to listen. Harassment, sexual violence, sexual assault, and rape destroys boundaries and it may remove a persons sense of control, so don’t take over the situation. The grieving process may take time, so be genuine and be ready to listen if and when they want to talk.
“The best way to support someone overcoming sexual trauma is to first understand them and really listen. Not to be polite, but to actually hear them. I’ve learned that everyone reacts to trauma differently, so there’s no perfect formula to say to someone.” - Jen, Creator for The Healing Project
Believe the survivor
Make it clear that you believe the assault happened and that it is not their fault. We need to stop questioning the choices of the survivors. We need to change the narrative around how we react and respond to sexual violence.
Disclosing is difficult because it may come with shame or concerns that they’ll be blamed. So believe the survivor.
Recommend appropriate supports
Counselling is a huge help for a lot of people, but the individual has to be ready for it. Everyone heals at different times and everyone finds healing in different forms.
Ultimately, the decision to go to counselling needs to be theirs to make.
“My therapist presented me with the concept of my life being a tapestry where you can't change the past, but you have the freedom to go forward and create whatever you want to create.” - Greg, Creator for The Healing Project
A final note
Here is a final note from Jacquie, a Senior Sexual Assault Counsellor with the Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis.
“There are many people who walk through our doors already carrying guilt and shame because society sends them that message pretty strongly. When you minimize or deny their experience, you add to that victim blaming mentality which makes future disclosures even more difficult and adds to the layers of trauma.”
“Some people may carry it with them for years before they are able to acknowledge or accept what happened to them and want to share their story. Recognize that every person is unique and there are so many factors that determine when someone is ready to start picking up all the broken pieces.
“The strongest message you can send to someone is to let them know that they’re not alone in this. There are supports in our community that can walk with you and alongside you through your journey.”
Educating our Community
We want to normalize talking about healing from sexual trauma. Our goal is to have 5,000 community members read this page and become more educated on this difficult topic.
Help us get to our goal by sharing this page with your network!
1,882
The Healing project Visitors
5,000
Page visitors goal
About Healing
Your healing journey can only begin when you're ready. Here are some thoughts from The Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis.
Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis
“Hi! My name is Jensen and I am the Public Educator for G-W Women in Crisis. We are a feminist community-based organization that supports survivors of gender-based violence through programs and services. We also promote the elimination of gender-based violence through public education and advocacy.”
“What excites me most about my work is the opportunity to engage in our community and connect with those who want to learn more. With an issue like this, it is so stigmatized. So having conversations and moving past the initial discomfort is key to us moving towards violence prevention.”
About Healing
“Everyone’s experience with trauma is different. So everyone’s healing process is going to be different. It’s important to define what healing is and what it looks like to you.”
“There isn’t a magic moment where you will be fully healed because it will ebb and flow. Healing is a lifelong process and there will be tough days and good days.”
“You don’t have to know exactly what you’re looking for when you call us and you don’t have to be in a crisis. When you call, we will assess your situation and walk you through all of the services that we offer. It’s really about providing you what you need to feel safe and to feel supported.”
Click the button below if you’re interested in learning more about the work that G-W Women in Crisis does in our community!
Continuing the Conversation
Our Tote Bags
By purchasing a tote bag, you are supporting survivors and ensuring that we no longer carry it alone.
Community Box: Healing Edition
$55.00 for a set of 3 Classic Canvas or Travel Tote Bags.
About the Totes:
The Classic Canvas Tote Bags are 100% heavy canvas, measure 15” x 15” x 3”, and are the perfect lifestyle tote for your everyday needs. Our Travel Tote Bags are also heavy canvas, measure 20” x 15” x 5”, and are wide enough to fit all of your travel and grocery needs.
We support local. Our tote bags were screenprinted in the Waterloo Region by a living wage employer and our labels were sewn on by a lovely seamstress in Guelph.
Every tote bag includes a matching sticker!
Profit Sharing:
Our three Creators for The Healing Project were paid $50 for their time, and earn 5%-12% from every sale. Additionally, 10% of all revenue will be donated to our two charity partners on this project: Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis and Sexual Assault and Support Centre Waterloo Region.
*Free express shipping on all orders $75+ before tax.
Design Inspiration
Our three tote bag designs share an important reminder from each of the Creators' personal healing journey.
Jen’s Tote Bag
Design Name: Don’t Carry it with You.
“This tote bag represents my experience healing from sexual trauma.”
"‘I chose the message ‘Don’t Carry it with You’ because that was something that I did. I held onto my trauma for a really long time before finally dealing with it.”
“This design is a reminder that you don’t have to be alone in carrying it. You can have someone else carry your tote bag and you can ask others to help carry it with you.”
Click to button below to learn more about Jen’s journey with healing.
Beth’s Tote Bag
Design Name: Cry over Spilled Milk
“‘It’s okay to cry over spilled milk’ is a twist on the phrase that is used to silence people’s pain and emotions after experiencing trauma. As I grew through the healing process, I took my voice - and power - back by allowing myself to cry through the pain and regain my childlike joy.”
“As a reminder to anyone reading this, it’s okay to cry over spilled milk.”
Click to button below to learn more about Beth’s journey with healing.
Greg’s Tote Bag
Design Name: Recovery isn’t a straight Line
“If there’s one message I want you to carry with you, it’s that recovery isn’t a straight line.”
“And you have good days and you do have bad days. I think that what you try to do is put yourself in a position where the number of good days increasingly outnumber the bad.”
Click to button below to learn more about Greg’s journey with healing.
Purchase Individual Products
Do you really love one of our designs or want it as a sticker? Add individual items to your cart below!
Looking for bulk tote bags?
Purchase our tote bags in bulk to save up to 35% off the regular price!
Bulk Tote Bags
You can purchase our tote bags in lager quantities for your business, event, or gifting needs!
If you are looking to order more than 100 totes, or have a custom message screenprinted onto the back of the tote bags, please send us an email at info@communitycompany.org for a quote.
*Free express shipping on all orders $75+ before tax.
Our Creators
Click the images below to learn more about the three Creators behind The Healing Project.
Featured
Additional Support
The Healing Wall
An interactive online wall filled with stories of healing.
The Healing Wall is a social experiment to normalize the conversations around healing from any kind of trauma and grief. We hope to inspire others to begin their healing journey and to show others in similar situations that they're not alone.
Working together to end sexual violence
The Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) is a network of sexual assault centres across Ontario. We represent 31 English-language sexual assault centres. Our membership includes sexual assault centres from across Ontario, offering counselling, information and support services to survivors of sexual violence, including childhood sexual abuse and incest.
Click the button below to learn more.
Kitchener, Ontario
“I am not yet a survivor. Not still a victim. So what does that make me?”