Therapy for Sexual Trauma
If you are a survivor of sexual trauma, the right therapy can bring new peace inside. Together we tune into your own powerful internal process for healing, at your pace. I offer safety and attunement - a therapeutic relationship that is warm, understanding, non-judgmental, caring, empowering, and informed by the latest science and methods.
Please feel free to read more about therapy for sexual trauma below or reach out for a consultation to see if this work feels right to you.
Somatic Trauma Therapy
If you are a survivor of sexual trauma, you may experience trauma symptoms like feeling spaced out, rageful, angry, anxious, depressed, numb, scared, ashamed or alone. These emotions could be combined with fight, flight, freeze, or collapse responses in the nervous system. This is not at all a sign of something wrong with you, it is a sign that your nervous system is wanting to cope with what happened. I work with somatic trauma methods to bring lasting relief. Some of these methods were developed by people who have come out about being survivors of sexual violence themselves, such as Peter Levine.
In the beginning, we may work to support your nervous system through somatic resourcing. We may explore something activating in your present life and develop resources that harness the intrinsic power of your nervous system to settle or to be more embodied, depending on the circumstances. After that, sometimes this work involves releasing energy very carefully that’s held in the body - this happens naturally. You may be invited to notice sensations that emerge when working with topics you bring into session. Other times it can be helpful to very mindfully allow the completion of some kind of protective response that did not get to happen at the time of the trauma. This can be very empowering. There may also be really important corrective experiences that happen in relationship with me as your therapist, such as feeling, cared for, heard and understood. To read more about this type of work you can look into Somatic Experiencing and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.
Other times it may be helpful to use the visual system in therapy with EMDR or Brainspotting. With Brainspotting you may be invited to notice how an issue is connected to a sensation in your body. Next I help to find an eye position that is associated with the activation and together we will notice what unfolds. You may also be invited to listen to bilateral music provided to you. You may be invited to close one eye at times. With EMDR the processing happens with bilateral eye movements or self-tapping on the body alternating on the left and right sides. If you have questions about any of this process please feel free to contact me.
Self Love and Compassion
Somatic parts work with Internal Family Systems and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy can be really helpful for bringing love and compassion to young parts of the self that may feel angry, defensive, protective, alone, rejected, shamed, or abandoned due to sexual trauma and the context of silence in which it tends to happen. We all have young parts inside, this is normal. Within the care of the therapeutic relationship, learning to turn towards these tender parts as well as parts that may be in the system to protect them can be very helpful.
Spiritual Power
In my experience, and in the research, it is very clear that for many people healing major trauma in childhood or adulthood is often a catalyst for spiritual growth and understanding. It is often a natural outcome of therapy to feel more embodied in the world, more connected to yourself, and more connected to others. For many people this is a spiritual experience. When there is a process of going inside into one’s internal experience through somatics and parts work, what is found there is often something with spiritual qualities - a heartfelt love, compassion, core essence, spirit, soul, or whatever word you feel comfortable with. Some people also find their own spiritual guidance and internal wisdom. As a therapist, I’ve found this spiritual power within people to be a huge catalyst for healing. If this feels important to you, I work with whatever language feels right to you to explore your experience. If this is not a part of your belief system however please know this does not have to be a part of your journey for you to feel better.
Healing Oppressive Messaging
Many cultures have systemically oppressed women for centuries and our culture tends to blame victims for sexual violence. Today our culture is slowly healing from this energy. Many victims blame themselves, go quiet, and suffer in silence. Please know your body may have frozen up to protect you so you could not fight back, or you may have been manipulated and groomed for the abuse. Children are never able to consent to sexual contact. If you were drinking or high during the assault it was not your fault. You may need to heal from messaging you received telling you otherwise. Sometimes an important part of therapy is about bringing love and compassion to parts of the self that internalized this kind of oppressive messaging. We may also need to process emotions over the impact of this messaging.
Healing in Relationship
If you are a survivor of sexual trauma, you may notice issues with being in relationship. You may feel disconnected or reactive at times. You may have trouble setting boundaries. It may be hard to find your voice or open up in a way that brings closeness. You may have issues sensing who is safe and who is not in relationships. For some, healing these issues can be an important part of addressing the impact of sexual trauma.With Internal Family Systems parts work, it can be helpful to get to know how all the parts of the self that protect from pain in relationships are trying to help. We befriend these parts with love and compassion which leads to healing. In addition to individual work, EFT couples therapy may also be helpful in working through these relationship issues, knowing that there is a cycle of how these issues play out between two people that reinforces the pattern.
“When you have nothing to be ashamed of, when you know who you are and what you stand for, you stand in wisdom.”
-Oprah, Regarding her healing from childhood sexual abuse
Stage 2 Recovery
Are you in recovery from an addiction or alcohol abuse? Many survivors of sexual abuse in childhood or adulthood turn to substances and other addictions to soothe their nervous systems from trauma responses. Many do not know the impact trauma had on their nervous system until it begins to heal and they feel so much better inside. If you are in recovery it may be time to treat the trauma so that you can feel better and thrive.
Healing Sexually
Our culture sexually objectifies people which can feel incredibly threatening to someone with unhealed sexual trauma. Some may avoid sexual contact. Others may end up in risky and unsafe sexual situations even though it is not what they want deep down. Some are with a partner who has the best of intentions but does not understand what they need to heal sexually. In addition to trauma work, I use relational work with EFT couples therapy to help people create more secure bonds so they can communicate on an emotional level. This can help couples work through sexual issues.
Did Other Treatments Reach a Plateau?
Some people have been in therapy before but reached a plateau or did not find relief. It may help to try different methods. I use several somatic treatments that work with deep parts of the brain and nervous system. I’ve found that one treatment may work well for one person but not for someone else. Or one treatment may help heal one layer of the trauma but a different tool is necessary to get to the next one. Brainspotting, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) Parts Work are some of my favorite trauma treatments.
My Speciality in Sexual Trauma and Childhood Sexual Abuse
Warm, with special skill in working with neurodivergence, sensitive nervous systems and sensory differences
LGBTQIA+ affirming
Passionate about staying up-to-date on the latest and most effective tools for healing sexual trauma in the body, brain, mind, emotions, spirit, and relationships
Trained in multiple methods: Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, and Emotionally Focused Therapy for both individuals and couples
Experience with survivors of childhood sexual abuse, date rape, incest, violent sexual assault, and sex trafficking. Experience with the legal system and reporting.
Experience with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex PTSD, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Low Libido, Vaginismus, Erectile Dysfunction, ADHD, Autism, Substance Use Disorders (in recovery), and various manifestations of chronic pain
Now accepting individuals and couples for therapy to address sexual trauma.
