What happened to you wasn’t your fault, but unfortunately it happens all too often. Sexual trauma can be the result of a variety of experiences. Through no fault of your own, you may have suffered from:
- Any unwanted sexual touching
- Incest or childhood sexual abuse
- Rape or attempted rape
- Sexual contact that is coerced or forced under the threat of violence
According to the CDC, more than 1 in 4 women and almost 1 in 13 men have experienced sexual abuse during childhood. It might have only happened once or over a period of time and most likely you knew your abuser — though sometimes it can be a relative stranger. At times the aftermath could be even worse if you found that the people who were supposed to be there for you or protect you — parents, family members, police, friends — weren’t there or weren’t helpful. The effects can be devastating.
In spite of all of this, you’ve been moving forward in the best way you know how and you’ve learned to adapt and survive.
How might you be struggling and coping in the aftermath of childhood sexual abuse or sexual assault?
- You’ve completely banished sex from your life in an attempt to forget all about what happened
- You’ve had trouble figuring out your boundaries and you’ve done things you later regret.
- It’s been hard to figure out ways to connect with other people other than through sex.
- You find yourself taking out your anger at loved ones or turning it in on yourself
You don’t have to to this alone.
If you’re reading this though, maybe you’ve started wondering if there’s another way for you. There is and I’m here to help! I want you to feel more at peace in your body, more in control of your emotions. Our work together can help you to know your boundaries and feel empowered to set them during sex, in romantic relationships, or with family and friends or at work. I can help you to learn how to let your guard down sometimes and let safe people in. You deserve to be able to trust yourself again and to fully own your needs and desires. Together we can make this happen.
The good news is that you have the ability to heal already inside of you, with a little guidance. It may be one of the most challenging things you’ve done, but it will be so worth it. And you’ve had to go through hard things in the past, so you know you’ve got the resilience inside you to do this. In the words of the great Peter Levine “trauma is a fact of life but it does not, however, have to be a life sentence.” Healing from sexual abuse and assault offers the opportunity for transformation.
“Trauma is a fact of life but it does not, however, have to be a life sentence.”
— Peter Levine
What to Expect From a Sexual Abuse Counseling Session
Working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse and sexual assault is one of my specialties. Together we will create a safe space for you to process your past and restore resiliency. I draw from Somatic Experiencing, attachment theory and parts work to help you heal. You will see that this process can be very gentle — you get to set the pace. Whatever trauma you’ve experienced, it was done without much care or concern for your own needs, wants, desires or boundaries. Our work together is to help you understand and advocate for all of these by helping you connect more to and be present in your body.
Inspired by the works of Emily Nagoski, Esther Perel, and Staci Haines, I am committed to keeping a sex positive lens throughout our work together. If you want to learn how to trust yourself more, I’d love to help. Please contact me for a free 20 minute consultation.
