How to Heal from Sexual Trauma
Your experience(s) of sexual trauma may have shaped how you understand your identity, sexuality, and gender, but these are only part of your story.
Your true self extends far beyond your past pain.
As an experienced sexual trauma therapist, I will cover how I help survivors of sexual trauma improve their physical and mental health and ultimately heal from sexual trauma.
Healing from sexual trauma is a daunting task. You are not alone.
If you need immediate support for sexual trauma or sexual violence of any kind, please contact RAINN (The Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) by calling 800-656-HOPE.
To schedule an initial therapy session for your mental health, please contact me. I have immediate sex therapy openings for sexual assault survivors in Colorado.
Healing Sexual Trauma
What is Sexual Trauma Response?
Trauma is an emotional response to a distressing event or events. The trauma responses that are experienced after someone has experienced sexual abuse vary depending on trauma survivor and the traumatic event (or events) itself. Sexual violence including child sexual abuse, date rape, incest, and other sexual trauma wreaks havoc on the nervous system.
The nervous system is the body's command center, and when sexual trauma is experienced, it puts the nervous system on high alert. This trauma response is a way of our body protecting us from situations that break a sense of security. Trauma responses are involuntary and normal.
If you are experiencing a trauma response as a result of sexual trauma, it is not your fault. Healing sexual trauma is possible with the proper mental health support and a strong support system.
I can support your healing journey. To book an initial therapy session, click here.
Sexual trauma affects you differently whether you have experienced it once, repeatedly, or over the course of time.
Healing sexual trauma is overwhelming because of the intensity of trauma symptoms that impact nearly all aspects of a survivor's life. Sexual trauma response affects mental health, emotional well being, and can lead to several mental health conditions.
Common Sexual Trauma Responses
Trauma responses bring on a heightened state of arousal and sound the "alarm" that triggers a response in our body and mind. Trauma responses are a way of our bodies and minds protecting us, but they can really suck when we don't have coping strategies to manage stress and bodily sensations related to trauma responses.
I commonly see the following trauma symptoms from my clients who are healing trauma:
Anger 🤬
Intrusive thoughts 💭
Anxiety 😰
Difficulty concentrating ⌛
Insomnia 💤
Fear/easily startled 😣
PTSD Flashbacks ❤️🩹
Guilt 😓
Stress and Physical Sensations after Sexual Trauma
Healing from sexual trauma is a process.
Understanding the physical and mental health impacts of sexual assault, rape, or intimate partner violence can take time. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder vary for everyone and may feel like your "normal," especially if you have experienced complex trauma or childhood sexual abuse.
Healing from sexual trauma happens by increasing self awareness around your unique needs. After abuse, understanding how you feel and what you need can be a challenging process.
In therapy, I support you in getting in touch with how you feel, what you need, and how you can increase feelings of personal safety.
Building self awareness around your stress, unpleasant sensations, and increasing ways to cope with the trauma you have experienced.
Healing after Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse
As an experienced sexual trauma therapist, I support trauma survivors in traditional talk therapy to provide a safe and supportive environment to support the healing process.
I help sexual abuse survivors by providing emotional support, enhance coping skills, and addressing mental health struggles that can come with sexual abuse.
I commonly support therapy clients wanting to heal from sexual trauma with things like emotional regulation, substance abuse concerns, anxiety, depression, self care practice, and navigating intimate relationships after sexual trauma or sexual violence.
After sexual assault, you may be dealing with post traumatic stress disorder, physical health issues, and various trauma symptoms.
It's possible to heal from the hurt you've endured.
Trauma Informed care in Sex Therapy
Childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, or incest can have a profound and enduring impact on an individual's life.
These traumatic events can lead to a complex array of emotional, psychological, and relational challenges.
You may struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, anger, or disbelief. You might experience difficulties in relationships, intimacy, or self-worth.
It's important to know that these responses are understandable and that healing is possible.
If you are carrying the weight of past sexual trauma, I invite you to consider therapy as a path towards recovery. Support groups that allow you to connect with other survivors or individual therapy are extremely helpful in the healing journey after sexual assault has occurred.
My approach to treating sexual trauma and sexual assault
My approach is centered on creating a safe and compassionate space where you can explore your experiences without judgment. Together, we can work to understand the impact of trauma on your life, develop coping strategies, and build resilience.
Through therapy, you can learn to manage distressing symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety. You can also develop healthier coping mechanisms, improve self-esteem, and foster more fulfilling relationships.
My goal is to empower you to reclaim your life and find peace and healing.
If you are ready to embark on this healing journey, I am ready to walk alongside you and guide you.
Types of Trauma Therapy for Healing Sexual Trauma
When you are seeking trauma therapy for sexual abuse, rape, male sexual victimization, and other sexual trauma, you will find a lot of options for therapy.
The therapy world if full of acronyms that are commonly understood by therapists, but often confusing to clients.
Trauma Therapy Acronyms Broken Down- What is EMDR?!
When you are seeking support for sexual trauma, you are likely to find lots of therapy options. It can be overwhelming to know what each therapy is and what is best for you.
Any therapist that you work with should be able to tell you how they approach trauma therapy and which modalities they plan to use with you. Some therapy modalities require additional, specific trainings or certificates. Be sure to ask you therapist about their credentials and training. Trauma therapy is sensitive, you need to work with someone qualified to support you.
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a type of therapy that is a type psychotherapy designed to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences. The therapy aims to help individuals reprocess distressing memories, reducing their emotional charge and allowing for more adaptive beliefs and behaviors. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing involves the therapist guiding the client through a series of structured steps while engaging in bilateral stimulation, often through guided eye movements.
DBT: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on teaching skills in four key areas. It focuses on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Teaching and encouraging client to practice mindfulness is a key component of DBT.
CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a widely used form of psychotherapy that focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The premise of CBT is that negative or distorted thinking patterns can contribute to emotional distress and maladaptive behaviors. By identifying and challenging these thoughts, individuals can develop healthier thinking patterns and improve their well-being.
CPT: Cognitive Processing Therapy is a type of therapy that that helps patients learn how to modify and challenge unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma.
Common Questions about Feelings Related to Sexual Assault
I get a lot of questions about sexual trauma from rape survivors, women survivors, and survivors of sexual abuse of all genders. Family members or loved ones of those who have experienced sexual trauma also commonly seek support to cope with the impact of trauma on their loved one.
There are no wrong questions when it comes to healing what you’ve been through. Here are some of the most common questions I receive from survivors of sexual violence and abuse:
"Is what I'm feeling normal? I mean, after what happened to me?"
"How can I ever trust someone enough to be intimate?"
"I can’t seem to enjoy sex. Is something wrong with me?"
"I don't know if it was consensual. I'm not even sure if I was sexually assaulted, how can I know?"
"I'm terrified of talking about this. What if it brings back bad memories?"
"Will people think I'm weird or broken if I tell them how I feel?"
"I don't want to get close to anyone because I’m afraid of being hurt again. Will I ever be able to be close to someone?"
"Will I ever be able to have a healthy relationship or a satisfying sex life?"
"I don't know what to expect if I explore my gender identity, and I’m scared people will assume my identity is because of what happened to me. How is sexual trauma connected to my gender?”
"My body does not respond well to any kind of physical contact. How can I relieve stress related to sexual and non-sexual touch?"
The effects of sexual abuse can be long-lasting and deeply impactful. It's important to understand that these wounds don't simply heal on their own. Recovery requires active effort and support.
The journey to healing can feel overwhelming, filled with fear and uncertainty. It's completely normal to experience these emotions. Remember, you are in control of your healing process.
You decide what to share, how much to share, and when. The pace of therapy is entirely up to you. Your comfort and well-being are the top priorities. You have the power to start or stop therapy whenever you feel it's right for you.
Healing is possible, and you don't have to go through this alone.
Our therapeutic relationship is built on the foundation of trust, empathy, and mutual respect. It's essential to me that you feel safe, heard, and understood throughout our work together. While I believe in the power of challenge and growth, I am equally committed to honoring your boundaries and pace.
I view our work as a collaborative partnership. This means we will work together to set goals, explore your experiences, and develop strategies for healing. Your input and feedback are invaluable to me. I believe that open and honest communication is essential for building a strong therapeutic alliance.
Consent is at the core of our work together. I will always seek your permission before introducing new topics or therapeutic approaches. This might look like checking in with you about your comfort level, offering choices, or simply asking, "Are you ready to explore this now?"
I understand that building trust takes time. I am patient and committed to creating a safe space for you to heal. Together, we will navigate the challenges that arise, and I will be there to support you every step of the way.
Remember, you are in control of the pace and direction of our work. My role is to provide guidance, support, and evidence-based tools to help you achieve your goals.
