After sexual assault, a survivor is often faced with questions that may feel too overwhelming to answer, like whether to tell anyone what happened or report the crime to law enforcement. Some people describe feeling dissociated from the experience, as though it happened to someone else. Others worry their case will become a matter of "he said, she said" and that they won't be believed. Too often, survivors are left feeling like they have nowhere to turn.
That's why nationally recognized sexual assault civil trial lawyer Jessica Pride recently launched the Survivor Lawyer Self-Care Resources Hub, a collection of free wellness tools designed to support healing after sexual assault.
Pride has spent nearly two decades representing sexual assault clients through a compassionate, survivor-centered approach. Having worked with hundreds of people over the years, she says one thing has become clear: there is no universal path to healing, and every person's response to trauma is unique.
"There's no one size fits all for how someone feels after a sexual assault," Pride said. Throughout her career, she has seen people respond to trauma in many different ways. "Some get in the shower after an assault and scrub themselves repeatedly before realizing they can't wash away what they're feeling."
Sexual assault can have profound and lasting consequences. One study from the University of Washington found that three out of four survivors experienced post-traumatic stress symptoms one month after an assault, and half continued experiencing symptoms a year later. Individuals recovering from sexual assault also face increased risks of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and other physical and mental health conditions. Even those who recover may continue living with the effects of the trauma for years.
Free Online Self-Care Resources Available Anytime
The Survivor Lawyer Self-Care Resources Hub offers free educational content that anyone can access. Those seeking additional support can create a confidential account to unlock the full Survivor Lawyer Self-Care Video Library. Registration is free, and you only need a username and email address to access the expanded collection, which includes calming breathing exercises, guided meditations, grounding techniques, downloadable Safety Plan and Support Cards, and a 12-month, self-paced healing curriculum. Those navigating a civil lawsuit can also access the Legal Journey collection, which features self-care practices created specifically for key moments throughout the legal process. The online platform is available at any time, allowing survivors to seek support privately whenever they need it.
Healing Doesn't Only Happen During Office Hours
Pride developed the Self-Care Resources Hub in collaboration with Sirona Healing Center, a trauma-informed wellness provider that supports people recovering after sexual assault. The goal was to create online materials that acknowledge healing is not linear and recognize that survivors often need support outside traditional office hours.
Navigating daily life after trauma can feel impossible. Something as seemingly simple as seeing a perpetrator's name may trigger overwhelming emotions or memories of the assault. Having access to confidential online support at any hour can make a meaningful difference.
Within the Self-Care Resources Hub, survivors can find guidance for situations many experience but may struggle to discuss, including nightmares, shame, anxiety, panic, and intrusive thoughts. Guided mindfulness exercises, body scan meditations, and breathing techniques can help users regain a sense of calm during difficult moments. For someone who isn't ready to share their trauma with others, having private, on-demand support can be an important first step.
Why Jessica Pride Created the Survivor Lawyer Self-Care Resources Hub
The idea for the Hub began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Pride noticed many of her clients struggling with heightened trauma, stress, and isolation. As in-person support groups and therapy sessions became unavailable, she launched a weekly "Wellness Wednesday" series online featuring trauma-informed yoga, sound healing, and other wellness practices—hundreds of people tuned in each week.
When she realized how much those conversations resonated with survivors, she decided to build something permanent that people could access whenever they needed it.
"Everybody resonates with something different, and sometimes you just want to try things out in private," Pride said. "I wanted people to have resources at their fingertips for whenever they needed them, day or night."
Supporting Survivors Throughout the Legal Process
Healing doesn't stop when the legal process begins. For many survivors, pursuing legal action can become another emotionally demanding part of recovery. Sexual assault lawsuits can be draining for plaintiffs who are asked to recount their experience in great detail.
The Self-Care Video Library includes videos focused specifically on the legal process, from contacting a lawyer for the first time to preparing for a deposition, mediation, settlement discussions, or trial. Pride says she understands firsthand how emotionally exhausting these experiences can be.
"Having your deposition taken is not fun," Pride said. "It's not fun to have your whole life aired out and have to talk about the thing that hurt you the most."
Healing Often Involves More Than One Type of Support
For survivors managing both recovery and legal proceedings, multiple forms of support often work together. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), talk therapy, and other evidence-based treatments are commonly recommended. Support tools, such as those available through the Survivor Lawyer Self-Care Resources Hub, are intended to complement, not replace, professional mental health care.
While healing looks different for everyone, having immediate access to trusted self-care resources may make it easier to take that first step toward recovery.
Looking ahead, Pride says she plans to continue expanding the Survivor Lawyer Self-Care Resources Hub. Future goals include increasing awareness of survivors' legal rights, such as the ability to file lawsuits anonymously in many cases, while adding new trauma-informed tools to the platform.
"We want to do what we can to end sexual violence, and the Self-Care Resources Hub is one way we're helping the survivors who need it most," Pride said.
