If you are a survivor of sexual violence, you are not alone. Research finds that over half of women and nearly one-third of men have been victims of sexual assault throughout their lives. 

Sexual assault advocate, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and current PhD candidate in Studies of Human Behavior, Woomendy Jean MA grew up in a culture where stigmas and stereotypes in relation to sexual assault prevented victims from speaking out and seeking support.

Woomendy has committed herself to providing unbiased, non-judgmental, and professional trauma-informed therapy to survivors of sexual assault. She also provides education to survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones, to empower them in making the best decisions for themselves.

She believes in achieving an empowering culture that allows survivors to use their voice, and encourages others to listen, respect, and support survivors appropriately. 

We sat down with Woomendy to learn more about what sexual violence therapy involves and how survivors of sexual assault can regain their strength, resilience, and self confidence.

What Does Therapy for Sexual Violence Involve?

First and foremost, I’ll show clients empathy and demonstrate that I’m a safe and supportive person to work with. During our intake session, I’ll describe what trauma looks like and ask clients if they’ve ever experienced sexual encounters without their consent. Some clients open up right away while others need more time to vocalize their experiences. No matter what, I’ll listen and encourage survivors to share their experiences when they’re ready. 

Active listening, to both the words being said and the words unsaid, plays a huge role in my work with survivors of sexual assault. I’m here to listen without judgment and help survivors unpack their experience at a pace that feels right for them. 

Surviving sexual assault leaves people with thoughts and feelings that are very difficult to understand. Survivors might experience nightmares, flashbacks, or feelings of anger, shame, disgust, and distress in certain situations and environments. Trauma-informed therapy can help survivors learn emotional regulation, how to express their feelings, and relax in the moment with cognitive processing skills to address negative thoughts and beliefs.

Many survivors of sexual assault carry feelings of shame and guilt over what happened. I’m here to help clients work through these feelings and remind them that it was not their fault. We’ll work on replacing shame with self-compassion and empowerment.

How can therapy help survivors of sexual violence heal and recover?

Sexual violence is very complex, and realistically speaking, clients can’t expect to heal and recover 60 minutes. 

Some clients decide that they don’t want to begin the healing work, and instead want a space to express what happened. For others, it’s about building the strength to process what happened and then beginning to learn coping skills and resources which can empower their recovery.

When we are doing therapeutic work together, I’m helping clients build coping skills and identify resources they can utilize and support systems they can lean on. At the end of the first session, we may develop a safety plan or a preventative plan of tools and resources they can use if they’re feeling anxious, depressed, or in distress. 

I’ll also help clients work through challenges that come up in personal relationships, as a result of their abuse. We’ll work on building the tools that they need to feel safe, respected, and valued in relationships. 

Our work together also provides the opportunity to rediscover joy, goals, and ambitions that might have been neglected as a result of the abuse. 

No matter where the client is at in their journey, I’m here to provide validation, empathy, reassurance, and unwavering belief in their potential to heal.

How can loved ones better support victims of sexual violence?

As a licensed family and marriage therapist, I’ll encourage clients to bring a trusted family member or a close friend to their therapy session. Individuals can change and heal within themselves, but the environment and relationships they surround themselves with plays a huge role in their recovery. Having a safe place to talk about what happened and how to support the survivor increases understanding, empathy, and trust, reducing both short-term and long-term consequences of the abuse.  

Other ways that friends and family can support a survivor, outside of family therapy, include:

• Educe yourself on sexual violence 
• Let them know that you believe them and take their disclosure seriously
• Listen to what they have to say on their own time, with patience and without judgment
• Validate their emotions, even if you do not understand them
• Allow them to decide on your level of involvement and respect their boundaries
• Offer to accompany them to various appointments
• Encourage them to engage in self-care activities  
• Remind them that it was not their fault 

Survivors of sexual assault need their loved one’s love and support, no matter the circumstances of the assault.

Start working with a therapist for sexual violence in Massachusetts today:

No matter where you are in your healing process, therapy is a place for you to find support, validation, and understanding in your journey. Whether you’re ready to work through your trauma or just want someone to listen to your story, our therapists are here to help. 

To start working with one of our sexual assault therapists online in Massachusetts or in-person from our offices in Amherst, Franklin, West Springfield, Wilbraham, or Natick, contact us today at (413) 343-4357 or request an appointment online.

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