‘They didn’t hear what I was trying to say’: an analysis of survivors’ experiences communicating with professionals about honour-based abuse

Survivors of honour-based abuse face significant challenges when communicating with professionals, yet their lived experiences of these interactions remain underexplored. This interpretative phenomenological analysis examined five survivors’ accounts of professional communication. Four themes emerged: seeking validation amidst cultural misunderstanding; navigating the disclosure paradox; professional responses as potential re-traumatisation; and building bridges through authentic connection. Participants described struggling to be believed, fearing disclosure escalation and bearing the burden of educating professionals about cultural contexts. Positive experiences were characterised by genuine rapport, clear support pathways and balanced autonomy. These findings highlight the need for culturally informed, trauma-sensitive professional training.