Therapy for Sexual Trauma
If you are a survivor of sexual trauma, healing can bring new peace inside. It’s important to find the right support.
If you are a survivor, feel free to read more about how I do therapy for sexual trauma below or reach out for a free consult to see if this work feels right to you.
Healing the Nervous System
If you are a survivor of sexual trauma, you may be experience trauma symptoms like feeling spaced out, rageful, angry, anxious, depressed, numb, scared, ashamed or alone. These emotions could be combined with fight, flight, freeze, or collapse responses in the nervous system. I work with somatic trauma methods to bring lasting relief. Some of these tools were developed by people who have come out about being survivors of sexual violence themselves, such as Peter Levine. Sometimes this somatic work involves releasing energy very carefully that’s held in the body. Other times it may mean helping your body to complete some kind of protective response that did not get to happen at the time of the trauma. There may also be really important corrective experiences that happen in relationship with me as your therapist, such as feeling heard and understood. Othertimes it may be really helpful to use the visual system to process the trauma with EMDR or Brainspotting.
Healing Realtionships
If you are a survivor of sexual trauma, you may notice issues with being in relationship. You may feel disconnected or reactive at times. You may have trouble setting boundaries. It may be hard to find your voice or open up in a way that brings closeness. You may have issues sensing who is safe and who is not in relationships. For some, healing these issues can be an important part of addressing the impact of sexual trauma. I work with individuals and couples to heal these attachment issues.
You too?
According to RAINN, one in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys under the age of 18 experience childhood sexual abuse or assault.
They are about 4 times more likely to develop symptoms of drug abuse and PTSD. They are 3 times more likely to experience a major depressive episode as adults.
1 in 6 adult women have experienced attempted or completed rape - this is over 17 million women in the United States.
The #MeToo Movement shines a powerful light on healing from sexual trauma - it can feel empowering for some but can also bring up complex feelings.
“When you have nothing to be ashamed of, when you know who you are and what you stand for, you stand in wisdom.”
-Oprah, Regarding her healing from childhood sexual abuse
Healing Oppressive Messaging
Many cultures have systemically oppressed women for centuries and our culture tends to blame victims for sexual violence. Today our culture is slowly healing from this energy. Many victims blame themselves, go quiet, and suffer in silence but all of that is changing now. Please know your body may have frozen up to protect you so you could not fight back, or you may have been manipulated and groomed for the abuse. Children are never able to consent to sexual contact. If you were drinking or high during the assault it was not your fault. You may need to heal from messaging you received telling you otherwise.
Stage 2 Recovery
Are you in recovery from an addiction or alcohol abuse? Many survivors of sexual abuse in childhood or adulthood turn to substances and other addictions to soothe their nervous systems from trauma responses. Many do not know the impact trauma had on their nervous system until it begins to heal and they feel so much better inside. If you are in recovery it may be time to treat the trauma so that you can feel better and thrive.
Healing Sexually
Our culture sexually objectifies people which can feel incredibly threatening to someone with unhealed sexual trauma. Some may avoid sexual contact. Others may end up in risky and unsafe sexual situations even though it is not what they want deep down. Some are with a partner who has the best of intentions but does not understand what they need to heal sexually. In addition to trauma work, I use relational work with EFT couples therapy to help people create more secure bonds so they can communicate on an emotional level. This can help couples work through these issues, including sexual dysfunction.
Did Other Treatments Reach a Plateau?
Some people come to me because they have been in therapy before but reached a plateau or did not find relief. It may help to try different methods. I use several somatic treatments that work with deep parts of the brain and nervous system. I’ve found that one treatment may work well for one person but not for someone else. Or one treatment may help heal one layer of the trauma but a different tool is necessary to get to the next one. Brainspotting, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, EMDR and IFS-Informed Parts Work are some of my favorite trauma treatments.
My Speciality in Sexual Trauma and Childhood Sexual Abuse
I am passionate about staying up-to-date on the latest and most effective tools for healing sexual trauma in the body, brain, mind, emotions, spirit, and relationships. I use Brainspotting, IFS-Informed Parts Work, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, IFS-Informed EMDR, and Emotionally Focused Therapy for both individuals and couples.
I have experience working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse, date rape, incest, violent sexual assault, and sex trafficking.
I work with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex PTSD, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Low Libido, Vaginismus, Erectile Dysfunction, ADHD, Substance Use Disorders (in recovery), and various manifestations of chronic pain.
Now accepting individuals and couples for therapy to address sexual trauma.
