Into the Light

What Into the Light does

Into the Light is a London-based not-for-profit Community Interest Company, founded in 1993, that provides counselling, psycho-education, workshops, and training for adult survivors of sexual abuse and the people who support them. Its core service portfolio comprises one-to-one counselling (face-to-face in London, telephone and online UK-wide), a ten-week topic-based psycho-educational course delivered as women's groups in West London or one-to-one online, half-day and full-day sexual abuse recovery workshops held 2-3 times per year, and training seminars for organisations on trauma informed practice and supporting survivors. The underlying intellectual property is a proprietary Model of Recovery from Sexual Abuse, developed in 1993 and grounded in Trauma Informed Practice, structured around a three-phased approach of Stabilisation, Processing of Trauma, and Integration, with content addressing shame, anger, powerlessness, betrayal, and sexual ambivalence. The course is recognised by the Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC), and the organisation is a Full Member of The Survivors Trust, the largest umbrella agency for specialist sexual violence support services in Europe.

The organisation operates with a small team of 8 employees, including founder Rebecca Mitchell and Director Sadie Cissell, supplemented by BACP-credentialed counsellors and facilitators (Suzette Breeden, Sophie Clarke). Its revenue model blends individual donations (minimum £5) and corporate cause-related partnerships (from 10p per product), fee-for-service counselling at subsidised rates, workshop fees (£45 standard / £35 early bird / £20 concession), ten-week course sponsorships (£150 to subsidise one survivor), and episodic organisational training seminars with flexible pricing. Distribution is multi-channel — face-to-face in West London, telephone nationwide, and online — and go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on content marketing via website and video resources, peer referrals through survivor groups, and professional referrals from NHS trusts, universities, and specialist rape crisis centres. All outcomes evidence is exceptionally strong (97-100% satisfaction across workshops, courses, training, and counselling since 2005/2008), but revenue scale is not disclosed and operations are donation-dependent.

Name

Into the Light

Legal name

Into The Light Counselling And Support CIC

Website

https://intothelight.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Into the Light is a London-based not-for-profit Community Interest Company that has provided counselling, psycho-education, workshops, and training for adult survivors of sexual abuse since 1993, serving individuals, partners, and professionals across the UK via in-person, telephone, and online channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trauma Counselling and Survivor Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

Keywords

• Sexual abuse counselling
• Trauma informed practice
• Survivor support services
• Psycho-educational courses
• Professional counselling training

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: As a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, Into the Light relies heavily on donations from individuals and organisations. Minimum donation of £5 accepted. They also offer corporate partnership opportunities where businesses can donate a portion of sales or host fundraising events.
2. One-to-One Counselling Services: Professional counselling services provided face-to-face in London or online/telephone throughout the UK. Counsellors are BACP Members with specialist training. Pricing is based on reasonable rates with subsidised options available.
3. Psycho-Educational Courses: Ten-week psycho-educational course for survivors offered in women's group format (London) or one-to-one online. The course is ACC recognised and can be delivered by other organisations with counselling experience. Course fees support programme delivery.
4. Workshops and Training Seminars: Half-day and full-day workshops on sexual abuse recovery and trauma informed practice. Workshop fees are £45 (standard) or £35 (early bird), with £20 for low income/students. Training seminars for organisations available as whole or half day courses with flexible pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Into the Light is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that provides counselling, support, advice, and resources to adult survivors of sexual abuse. Its core offerings include one-to-one counselling (face-to-face in London, telephone and online UK-wide), a ten-week psycho-educational course for survivors, recovery workshops, and professional training seminars for organisations. Services are built on a proprietary Model of Recovery from Sexual Abuse, developed in 1993 and grounded in Trauma Informed Practice principles.

Product overview

Into the Light is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company providing a suite of therapeutic and educational services for sexual abuse survivors. The core offerings include: One-to-One Counselling (available face-to-face in London or online/phone UK-wide); the Women's Survivors Group Course (a ten-week psycho-educational course running over 25 years, offered in women's groups in London or one-to-one online); Sexual Abuse Recovery Workshops (online events on specific dates); Training Seminars for professionals (on trauma-informed practice and supporting survivors); and Educational Videos covering core issues. The organization operates as a single integrated service portfolio rather than a platform-with-modules architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• One-to-One Counselling Supportive, caring and non-judgmental one-to-one counselling for survivors of sexual abuse, available face-to-face in London or online/telephone throughout the UK. Counsellors are BACP Members with specialist training in sexual abuse trauma. First session is 50 minutes with regular weekly appointments.
• Women's Survivors Group Course (Ten-Week Psycho-Education Course) A ten-week topic-based psycho-educational course for survivors, offered in women's groups in London (hybrid format with seven online and three in-person sessions) or one-to-one online for all genders. Course topics include Facing Fantasy, Truth/Lies and Memories, Families and Feelings of Shame, Anger and Contempt, Powerlessness and Betrayal, Confusion and Ambivalence, Co-Dependency, Emotional Pain and Eating Difficulties, Confrontation and Forgiveness, and Moving Forward. ACC recognised.
• Sexual Abuse Recovery Workshop

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of counselling clients said the counselling met their expectations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• The Survivors TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull Member of The Survivors Trust, the largest umbrella agency for specialist sexual violence support services in Europe. Represents survivors organisations at Government level, providing strategic voice for the sector and access to broader survivor support network.
• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)coreOthersAll Into The Light counsellors are Members of BACP and adhere to their strict code of ethics. BACP membership ensures professional standards and accountability.
• Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC)moderateOthersInto The Light holds ACC ethics and the ten-week course is ACC recognised. Counsellors can deliver the ACC recognised programme in their own environments.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)coreOthersAll Into The Light counsellors are DBS checked, ensuring safe practice with vulnerable adults.
• Training Seminar Clients (Organisations)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganisations license the ACC-recognised training course and materials to run in their own environments. Into The Light supplies all training and materials. Includes NHS trusts, universities, and counselling services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rape Crisis England & Wales: National umbrella body for Rape Crisis centres across England and Wales providing counselling, advocacy, and training. Larger, broader incumbent in the same specialist sexual violence support sector.
• Relate: UK relationship support charity providing counselling, including for couples affected by trauma. Broader incumbent with overlapping relationship-counselling and training offerings but no specialist sexual abuse focus.
• Mind (UK Mental Health Charity): Major UK mental health charity providing information, support, and counselling across a wide range of conditions including trauma. Broad incumbent serving overlapping populations but without specialist sexual abuse focus.

Direct peers

• Survivors UK: UK charity specialising in supporting male survivors of sexual abuse. Direct peer in the same sexual abuse survivor support niche, with similar online/telephone delivery model and counselling focus.
• NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood): UK charity supporting adult survivors of childhood abuse, including sexual abuse. Direct peer offering similar counselling, helpline, and training services, and a current partner of Into the Light's Director who provides supervision there.
• Lifecentre (Counselling and Support Service for Rape and Sexual Abuse Survivors): UK charity providing counselling and support for survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Direct peer and listed training seminar client of Into the Light, operating in overlapping service categories.
• RASASC (Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre): London-based specialist sexual violence support centre offering counselling, helpline, and ISVA services. Direct peer serving the same survivor population in overlapping London and UK-wide channels.

Others

• The Survivors Trust: Umbrella agency for specialist sexual violence support services in Europe. Not a direct service peer but Into the Light is a Full Member; represents the sector at Government level and shapes funding/policy.
• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP): Professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK. Not a direct competitor but Into the Light's counsellors are all BACP members; functions as the ethical and standards infrastructure the organisation depends on.

Regional players

• Jersey Action Against Rape: Channel Islands-based sexual violence support service offering counselling and training. Listed training client of Into the Light and a comparable specialist provider in a different UK jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/intothelightforsurvivors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Into the Light