Helpful ways to support a friend who discloses a harmful experience include the following:

• Listen actively and without judgment: Give your friend space to share at their own pace, listen carefully without interrupting or rushing to offer solutions, and avoid asking intrusive or blaming questions

• Believe and validate their experience: Assure them that you believe what they are telling you, acknowledge their courage in disclosing, and emphasize that what happened is not their fault. Validation helps reduce feelings of shame and guilt

• Provide emotional reassurance: Use trauma-informed and compassionate language such as "I believe you," "It’s not your fault," and "Thank you for trusting me with this." Recognize the pain they are experiencing and express your support

• Respect their privacy and choices: Keep their disclosure confidential unless there is an immediate risk of harm, and let them decide who else to tell and when. Support their autonomy in deciding next steps without pressuring them

• Help establish safety: Ask if they feel safe currently and help them identify ways to increase their physical and emotional safety if needed

• Provide information about resources: Offer information about support services and encourage them to access professional help when they are ready. Offer to accompany them if appropriate

• Be patient and ongoing: Understand that healing is a long process and be patient with their pace. Continue to check in and offer support without pushing for details or outcomes

What to avoid includes judging, blaming, trying to fix the problem, sharing your own experiences, pressuring them to disclose more, or making promises about confidentiality you cannot keep

. In summary, helpful support centers on listening, believing, validating, respecting autonomy, ensuring safety, offering resources, and being patient and compassionate throughout their healing journey