Few counseling services are available to or utilized by rape victims, which implies that many women turn, instead, to their social networks for support. Research literature suggests that anxiety is reduced and coping skills are enhanced when a victim uses her interpersonal social network for support. Unfortunately, many women have the same attitudes toward rape that are held by society, i.e., that rape is precipitated by the victim, and they are hesitant to tell persons in their social networks about their assault. Data from a rape crisis center revealed that most victims planned to tell at least one other person about the rape incident and that a significant relationship existed between plans to tell others and subsequent success in followup counseling. The results suggest that the family has a significant impact on rape victims; family members are most often turned to for support, yet are the most difficult individuals with whom to discuss the rape. For most women, the crisis intervention contact is the only contact she will experience with a trained counselor. It is important that the counselor, in addition to offering professional counseling, encourage the victim to use her social network for support. The new emphasis on the social support system of the victim can help the woman in her recovery process. (RNB)