Art can be therapeutic, too. One year after Ali was assaulted, she started running mental health and art therapy workshops for women. Over the last five years, Elisa has been photographing other survivors to capture the psychological impact of sexual violence. Her series, The Spiral Of Containment: Rape’s Aftermath, was published in a book last year.

With 85,000 women raped in England and Wales alone every year, and half a million adults sexually assaulted, a huge number of women are navigating life as survivors - and the challenges of dating.

“It took a lot of time for me to feel brave enough to go ahead with it, but I’m glad I opened myself up to it again,” Ali says. “I just make sure I’m thoroughly protecting myself, but also doing my best to let my walls down, bit by bit.”

How it feels to start dating again after sexual assault