Sexual Trauma Therapy
Are You A Sexual Trauma Survivor In Need Of Support?
Have you been struggling with the long-term ramifications of sexual trauma? In addition to the emotional trauma you’ve endured, do you experience painful physical symptoms that interfere with sexual and emotional intimacy? And even though you realize what happened isn’t your fault, is it hard to cast off the shame you feel?
Carrying the weight of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, rape, or sexual harassment can be a heavy burden with a far-reaching impact on how you think and feel. Emotionally, you may experience anxiety, depression, flashbacks, and feelings of self-blame, which can be overwhelming and disruptive at times. Physically, sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction, and chronic pain may affect your well-being and serve as a constant reminder that all is not well.
Your Intimate Relationships May Be Impacted By Trauma
Perhaps it’s been difficult for you to build trust in relationships or establish a sense of safety with your romantic partners. Although you seek intimacy and connection, you might tend to withdraw from intimate relationships as you contend with feelings of shame, an inability to enjoy sex or the belief that you are not worthy of love. To relieve your pain, you may turn to substances or other coping mechanisms that could negatively affect your work, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Because you’ve been affected by the aftermath of trauma in so many ways, you might feel overwhelmed trying to address your issues on your own. Fortunately, sexual trauma therapy offers customized care to manage your most acute symptoms as well as help shift how you think and feel on a deeper level, restoring your sense of trust and self-compassion.
Sexual Trauma Is Prevalent Within Our Culture
On average, there are 463,634 victims of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States. [1] It’s estimated that “one in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys under the age of 18 experience childhood sexual abuse or assault.” [2] Unfortunately, survivors of sexual abuse are about 4 times more likely to develop symptoms of drug abuse and experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and about 3 times more likely to experience a major depressive episode as adults. [3]
Sexual trauma—including childhood sexual abuse, assault, and harassment in the form of unwanted advances, comments, or behavior—is relatively common but often goes unreported. In addition to its negative impact on mental health, sexual trauma can also lead to chronic pain and sexual dysfunction.
In fact, “a significant relationship was found between a history of sexual and emotional abuse and the diagnosis of vaginismus—the recurrent or persistent involuntary spasm of the musculature of the vagina that interferes with vaginal penetration.” [3]
The Implications Of Sexual Trauma Are Far-Reaching
As survivors of sexual abuse, we often minimize the impact it has on us. Even though we experienced a violation of our body and soul with far-reaching and profound effects on our sense of safety and well-being, we don’t necessarily associate what happened to us with trauma. We may mistakenly believe that PTSD is reserved for those who have experienced active combat or lived through war, but we’d be wrong.
Unfortunately, overcoming sexual trauma on our own is difficult. In addition to the emotional ramifications, surviving sexual trauma can result in long-term issues with trust, internalized shame, and developing a range of complex—and often unhealthy— coping mechanisms. Long-term healing requires professional guidance, support, and a network of understanding individuals.
Fortunately, trauma therapy for sexual assault, abuse, or harassment is available to address whatever symptoms you’ve been struggling with. Regardless of how your trauma has impacted you, counseling can help you find answers.
Sexual Trauma Therapy Offers Customized Treatment To Address The Lingering Effects Of Child Sexual Abuse, Assault, And Harassment
As a survivor of sexual trauma, you might experience the world through a distorted lens of shame, fear, and self-blame. Partnering with a therapist who specializes in sexual trauma will ensure you receive counseling that provides sensitivity, compassion, and tailored support to help you move beyond the pain and fear and find a new perspective on the world and your place within it.
The first step to overcoming sexual trauma is understanding how your experience has affected your body and mind. Working at a pace where you feel comfortable and supported, we will explore the impact that trauma has on your physical, emotional, social, and relational well-being. With this understanding, we can then focus on key aspects of healing, including emotional regulation, trauma processing, self-esteem, self-care, goal setting, and safety planning.
What To Expect In Sessions
Sexual trauma therapy offers a safe and supportive space where you can:
Openly express and process your emotions without judgment;
Cultivate self-compassion and assertiveness;
Develop coping strategies to manage trauma-related symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, or flashbacks;
Improve your relationships by creating and maintaining personal boundaries, developing healthier communication patterns, and learning to address and resolve conflicts constructively;
Devise a crisis management plan to address acute emotional distress and safety strategies to avoid re-traumatization;
Establish self-care practices for emotional and physical well-being.
Reclaim sexual agency by setting boundaries around intimacy and learning how to incorporate consent into sexual encounters;
Regain a sense of control over your life, helping you shift your perspective from victim to survivor.
The long-term goals of therapy will be to reduce the emotional impact of sexual trauma, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and foster better relationships and social support to improve your overall sense of well-being. The personal growth you can achieve through therapy will minimize the risk of re-traumatization and help you feel empowered to live with confidence and purpose.
Effective Modalities For Sexual Trauma
Depending on your needs, we will incorporate evidence-based treatments into sexual trauma therapy, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for sexual trauma and abuse. CBT teaches you how to identify and challenge negative thought patterns and belief systems. Reframing your experience will quiet the inner voice of guilt and self-blame;
Somatic therapy focuses on the mind-body connection, allowing you to tune into the sensations of your body and examine how your thoughts affect you physically;
Mindfulness therapy for sexual trauma, including grounding, breathing, relaxation, and guided visualization exercises, can help you stay present, reduce stress, manage anxiety symptoms, and ease intense emotional reactions to triggers;
Rewriting your trauma narrative through the lens of empowerment can help you process what happened and face it head-on.
Healing from sexual trauma is possible with help and support. Therapy offers a safe space to process what happened, develop coping skills, and rebuild your life. It's a challenging journey, but many survivors find hope, recovery, and renewed empowerment in therapy. You can regain control, rebuild relationships, and discover a brighter future.
But Maybe You’re Not Sure If Sexual Trauma Therapy Is Right For You…
Does a sexual trauma therapist maintain confidentiality?
When it comes to sexual assault, child abuse, or sexual harassment, you may be particularly concerned that what you discuss in therapy remains confidential. Rest assured that maintaining confidentiality is an underlying principle of all therapy. As a licensed therapist, I am legally bound to protect your privacy. Your personal information and discussions are kept strictly confidential unless there is a risk of harm to yourself or others.
I worry that in sexual trauma therapy, I might be judged or blamed for what I've been through.
As one survivor to another, it's important you know that I will provide a safe and non-judgmental space where you will be allowed to tell your story openly and honestly. I'm here to support and help you heal, not pass judgment. Your feelings and experiences are valid.
Is it really possible to overcome the effects of sexual assault or child abuse in trauma counseling?
You may wonder if sexual trauma counseling will ultimately help you achieve long-term healing. For survivors of sexual abuse, it’s common to fear that no amount of therapy will be beneficial. However, I want to offer hope that with the right combination of treatment and therapist, you can achieve healing and positive transformation in therapy. However, the effectiveness of our work together depends on your active engagement, the rapport we build, and identifying the right approach that resonates with you. I want to work together to find a path that suits you best.
You Can Heal From Sexual Trauma
I am eager to help support you on your journey from victim to survivor. To find out more about sexual trauma therapy with Cushing Counseling, visit my contact page or call 703-475-2119 to schedule a free 15-minute call.
[1] Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2019 (2020).
[2] David Finkelhor, Anne Shattuck, Heather A. Turner, & Sherry L. Hamby, The Lifetime Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Assessed in Late Adolescence, 55 Journal of Adolescent Health 329, 329-333 (2014)
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1743609521005841
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