SA Experience Writing Template
The process of engaging with these resources and confronting your feelings will likely be challenging.
It may feel triggering and overwhelming, but hopefully, it will also be healing. You can create a safer space for yourself by considering the following:
Tell an Emotionally Intelligent Person:
Having a trusted person in your life who you can reach out to is a powerful tool. Let them know what you're going through, and together, you can create a plan for support. It's important to remember that as a whole, sexual violence and trauma research has been heavily focused on the female experience. This can mean that even an emotionally intelligent person may not be fully trained or prepared for how males deal with trauma. It's okay if you don't connect with that person—the goal is to find support that works for you.
Acknowledge the Journey:
It is a reality that some people don't have a trusted person or a support network they can turn to, or may have a secret they need to keep, such as sex work. Remember that finding the right support is a journey, not a destination. It's an ongoing process, and it can take time to figure out who and what works for you. The key is to keep seeking options that feel right.
Create a Menu of Grounding and Coping Strategies:
This list is designed to be a menu of options. You don't have to use all of them. The goal is to have a range of activities from a quick breathing exercise to a full-on cooking project that you can choose from in the moment.
It's Okay to Stop!
Whether you're in the middle of a grounding exercise, a recipe, or a workout, remember that you are in control. It is always okay to stop if you feel overwhelmed. Your well-being is the top priority.
Location type:
E.g. house, flat, car, alley, hotel, outdoors
Street name / house number / nearby landmarks:
Exterior details:
E.g.building colour, fences, parked cars, signage
Interior details:
E.g. Wall colour, furniture, decorations, smells
Lighting:
E.g. bright, dim, candles, natural
Sounds:
E.g. traffic, music, voices, TV, animals
Access points:
E.g. doors, gates, stairs, windows, lifts
Location type:
E.g. house, flat, car, alley, hotel, outdoors
Street name / house number / nearby landmarks:
Exterior details:
E.g.building colour, fences, parked cars, signage
Interior details:
E.g. Wall colour, furniture, decorations, smells
Lighting:
E.g. bright, dim, candles, natural
Sounds:
E.g. traffic, music, voices, TV, animals
Access points:
E.g. doors, gates, stairs, windows, lifts
Offender Description Template
If known:
Name|Name given:
Contact information:
Approximate height and build:
Age estimate:
Skin tone:
Hair Colour:
Hair Length:
Hair Style:
Facial hair:
Clothing:
E.g. Colours, logos, footwear
Voice/accent :
E.g. tone, pitch, speech style, slurred/clear
Smell:
E.g. cologne, smoke, alcohol, body odour):
Distinctive features:
Tattoos, piercings, scars, birthmarks, jewellery, moles – e.g. inner thigh, neck, arm
Other People Description Template
Number of other people present:
Roles/relationships (friends, strangers, accomplices):
How they interacted or were addressed:
Known or suspected friends or associates.:
Contact details known:
Other Details:
Behaviour & Events Description Template
How contact began:
E.g. client, through a 'friend', approached, invitation, forced entry, conversation, at a bar etc
Words used:
E.g. threats, instructions, offers
Weapons present:
E.g. knife, gun, blunt object etc
Actions taken:
E.g. Holding down, restraining, blocking exit etc
When consent was removed or ignored: E.g. describe if it changed during the interaction etc
Interruptions:
E.g. Phone ringing, door knock, someone entering):
What happened immediately after:
E.g. threats, apologies, silence):
How the offender left:
E.g. on foot, car, with others
Attempt to clean up / hide traces:
Objects & Evidence Description Template
Communication
E.g. Messages, emails, phone logs
Vehicle details
E.g. make, model, colour, number plate, stickers/damage):
Items handled:
E.g. glasses, bottles, bedding, condoms/wrappers):
Technology used:
E.g. phone, camera, speakers
Personal items taken or left behind:
E.g. Sock, bag, glasses etc
Witness(s) Information & description:
E.g. Other people present in the location flatmates etc
Other Evidence:
Anything that might be useful
Your Own | Health & Condition Template
State before:
E.g. sober, drinking, medicated, tired
Injuries:
E.g. scratches, bruises, bleeding, soreness
Clothing:
E.g. Torn, moved, missing, stained
Emotional state:
E.g. Anger, shock, fear, confusion, numbness
Location of belongings:
E.g. bag, phone, clothes
HIV, STI/STD prevention medication taken or prescribed:
E.g. PEP, Doxy-PEP
Steps taken to manage my wellbeing:
E.g. Writing about it, telling someone, contacting an organisation
Time & Sequence of Events Template
Location before SV:
Approximate start time of SV:
Approximate end time of SV:
Approximate how many times occurred?
E.g. once, from this time - this time/day/month year
Order of events (as remembered):
Delays between incident and seeking help or advice:
Other information for context:
2. Offender Description
If known:
Name|Name given:
Contact information:
Approximate height and build:
Age estimate:
Skin tone:
Hair Colour:
Hair Length:
Hair Style:
Facial hair:
Clothing:
E.g. Colours, logos, footwear
Voice/accent :
E.g. tone, pitch, speech style, slurred/clear
Smell:
E.g. cologne, smoke, alcohol, body odour):
Distinctive features:
Tattoos, piercings, scars, birthmarks, jewellery, moles – e.g. inner thigh, neck, arm
3. Other People
Number of other people present:
Roles/relationships (friends, strangers, accomplices):
How they interacted or were addressed:
Known or suspected friends or associates.:
Contact details known:
Other Details:
4. Behaviour & Events
How contact began:
E.g. client, through a 'friend', approached, invitation, forced entry, conversation, at a bar etc
Words used:
E.g. threats, instructions, offers
Weapons present:
E.g. knife, gun, blunt object etc
Actions taken:
E.g. Holding down, restraining, blocking exit etc
When consent was removed or ignored: E.g. describe if it changed during the interaction etc
Interruptions:
E.g. Phone ringing, door knock, someone entering):
What happened immediately after:
E.g. threats, apologies, silence):
How the offender left:
E.g. on foot, car, with others
Attempt to clean up / hide traces:
5. Objects & Evidence
Communication
E.g. Messages, emails, phone logs
Vehicle details
E.g. make, model, colour, number plate, stickers/damage):
Items handled:
E.g. glasses, bottles, bedding, condoms/wrappers):
Technology used:
E.g. phone, camera, speakers
Personal items taken or left behind:
E.g. Sock, bag, glasses etc
Witness(s) Information & description:
E.g. Other people present in the location flatmates etc
Other Evidence:
Anything that might be useful
6. Your Own Condition
State before:
E.g. sober, drinking, medicated, tired
Injuries:
E.g. scratches, bruises, bleeding, soreness
Clothing:
E.g. Torn, moved, missing, stained
Emotional state:
E.g. Anger, shock, fear, confusion, numbness
Location of belongings:
E.g. bag, phone, clothes
HIV, STI/STD prevention medication taken or prescribed:
E.g. PEP, Doxy-PEP
Steps taken to manage my wellbeing:
E.g. Writing about it, telling someone, contacting an organisation
7. Time & Sequence
Location before SV:
Approximate start time of SV:
Approximate end time of SV:
Approximate how many times occurred?
E.g. once, from this time - this time/day/month year
Order of events (as remembered):
Delays between incident and seeking help or advice:
Other information for context:
1. Environment
Location type:
E.g. house, flat, car, alley, hotel, outdoors
Street name / house number / nearby landmarks:
Exterior details:
E.g.building colour, fences, parked cars, signage
Interior details:
E.g. Wall colour, furniture, decorations, smells
Lighting:
E.g. bright, dim, candles, natural
Sounds:
E.g. traffic, music, voices, TV, animals
Access points:
E.g. doors, gates, stairs, windows, lifts
⚠️ MSWI is informational only and does not endorse or encourage sex work.
No advertising or paid endorsements
© 2025. All rights reserved.