Sexual Trauma and Trauma Recovery

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• Do you feel haunted by an event or series of events that continue to interfere with leading a happy life?

• Have you experienced flashbacks, panic attacks or nightmares related to sexual abuse, assault or exploitation?

• Is it difficult for you to feel safe?

• Do you have difficulty allowing physical intimacy or have difficulty setting healthy boundaries around sex?

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Survivors of sexual trauma often express worry that they are "broken" or that these feelings will be permanent. Nothing could be further from the truth. Trauma responses like the ones listed above can be overwhelming and exhausting, but they do not have to last forever. It may not feel like it, but your brain is doing its best to protect you after you have experienced trauma. Our brains are built to detect and respond to danger, butt sometimes survivors of sexual trauma experience a constant flood of feeling in danger, even after the threat has passed. In therapy, we can work on ways to help you manage and reduce these responses. It is possible to reconnect with your power and feel in control of your life and your safety.

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Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and incest

I understand the particular challenges that adults who have survived childhood sexual abuse face, and am able to provide specialized support in this area. It is common that adults who were silenced as children have difficulty finding a way to speak about these painful and sometimes confusing experiences. There can be intense shame around childhood abuse, particularly if that abuse occurs within the family. If you have experienced abuse from a parent, sibling, or other relative you are not alone. In general, sexual abuse is an isolating and lonely experience and this is doubly true when it occurs in the family: survivors can experience a range of emotions including anger, sadness, fear, desire, and love. No combination of these responses is wrong, and I want to support you in processing the complex impact of your experiences. It may also be helpful to look at how early experiences of sexual abuse have impacted your responses to intimacy and relationships.

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Sexual Assault

I have also worked with many survivors of sexual assault. I know it can be so difficult to feel safe moving through the world after an assault and want to work with you to restore feelings of safety and control. We can discuss emotional and practical steps you can take to heal from your assault and move forward. I am also able to provide support if you are navigating through a legal or criminal process related to your assault.

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Trafficking/CSEC

In addition, I have multiple years of focused work with sex trafficking survivors. If you are a survivor of sex trafficking or CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) you will find a safe place to talk about your experiences with someone who understands not only sexual exploitation but the dynamics of power and control particular to trafficking situations.

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