Sexual Assault Survivor Therapy

There is nothing in our society that is treated quite like rape. From the prevalence of incidents, to the media’s portrayal of victimhood, to the way our legal system treats evidence and reports, rape is a topic that is scary for anyone to discuss. A rape survivor needs to feel safe and comfortable before discussing the details of the event. Clinical settings like hospitals and group therapy rooms don’t lend themselves to this.

If you have been raped, there are dozens of websites that are set up to help you with legal advice, behavior change advice, and ways to help return your life to normal. Almost all of them insist that seeking therapy is useful.

Many therapists believe that the best place to start with helping you recover is to re-live your trauma, to relate your story over and over until you are desensitized. This re-wounding style of counseling is the terrifying reason that most victims refuse therapy. Who would like to repeatedly drop the same brick on their toe?

Therapy for survivors of rape begins with offering you a safe space to discuss your feelings, a place that does not coerce you into telling your story and reliving the pain before you are ready, a place that is supportive, comforting, and never ever sexualized. Once your safety and security are established, your counselor can help you gain cognitive tools to eventually overcome unwanted automatic or intrusive thoughts or troubling behaviors associated with your trauma.

There truly is a safe way to heal from sexual assault. Don’t suffer any longer. Call or email for an appointment today.