If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you are not alone. 

Research shows that more than half of all women and nearly one-third of men living in the United States have endured sexual violence. 

No matter how or when the sexual assault occurred, the survivor is never at fault. The pain and trauma that the survivor has endured as a result of sexual violence is real and valid. 

At Handel Behavioral Health, we want survivors of sexual assault to know that there are ways you can move past your traumatic experience and reclaim your life through therapy. 

While the recovery process will look different for each individual, there are effective treatment services which are responsive to the range of needs that survivors of sexual assault may have along their healing journey.  

Our expert and compassionate therapists offer a safe and supportive space for survivors to process their trauma, reclaim their sexual health, improve their physical wellbeing, control their behavioral health, and reclaim their sense of self. 

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

To learn more about what sexual assault is, and what therapy for sexual assault involves, please read on.

If you are experiencing a crisis related to sexual assault or abuse, please get in touch with the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAIIN) at 1-800-656-4673 or use the  free online chat. They are available 24/7.

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault refers to any type of sexual contact without consent. 

Sexual assault can happen when someone either touches another person in a sexual manner without consent or makes another person touch them in a sexual manner without consent. 

It can encompass a wide range of behaviors, such as nonconsensual kissing, groping, and/or penetration. Sexual assault can affect anyone, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or religion. 

Sexual assault can also occur as a result of coercion, which is the act of persuading someone to do something under pressure, manipulation, alcohol, drugs, or other substances. 

Forms of sexual assault can involve: 

• Attempted rape
• Fondling or unwanted sexual touching
• Forcing a victim to perform sexual acts: oral sex or penetrating the victim’s body
• Penetration of the victim’s body, also known as rape

How does sexual assault affect mental health?

Survivors of sexual assault face unique physical and psychological challenges as they navigate the aftermath of the traumatic event(s). The effects of trauma can be both short-term and long-lasting for survivors of sexual assault. 

Here are some of the symptoms survivors of sexual assault may experience: 

• The immediate aftermath: In the hours and days following a sexual assault, survivors can experience a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges. They may feel shock, disbelief, numbness, fear, and anger. They may also experience acute-stress disorder (ASD), which can manifest in intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and dissociation. 
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): One of the most common anxiety disorders survivors of sexual assault can develop is PTSD. Survivors may experience intrusive memories or flashbacks of the assault or persistent fear. They may avoid people, situations, and places that remind them of the traumatic event.
• Depression: Survivors are likely to feel sad, unhappy, and hopeless after experiencing sexual assault. If these feelings continue for an extended period of time, the survivor may have developed depression.
• Anxiety: Anxiety is a common mental health challenge faced by survivors of sexual assault. They may develop a generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, or panic attacks. They may also develop a specific phobia related to their assault, such as fear of being alone or in specific environments.
• Dissociation and dissociative disorders: In some cases, survivors may dissociate as a coping mechanism to distance themselves from the traumatic event. Symptoms of dissociation include feelings of detachment from one’s body, emotions, and surroundings.
• Substance use disorders (SUD): Survivors of sexual assault may use alcohol and drugs to numb the emotional pain, shame, guilt, and fear they feel as a result of the trauma.
• Eating disorders: Sexual assault can trigger disordered eating behaviors to cope with the emotional turmoil. Behaviors such as weight loss or gain and emotional eating may develop over time into eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder.
• Self-esteem and self-worth: Survivors often struggle with shame, guilt, and self-blame. These emotions can derail their sense of self and their self-worth, leading to long–lasting self-esteem issues.
• Physical health consequences: In addition to psychological consequences, survivors of sexual assault may experience chronic pain, headaches, and gastrointestinal issues. The stress and anxiety as a result of the trauma endured can also weaken the immune system.

There is no right or wrong way for survivors to respond to sexual assault or abuse. With proper support, the survivor can learn to identify their reactions, develop adaptive coping strategies, and heal through their trauma.

What does therapy for sexual assault involve?

1. Psychosocial Assessment: 

The first phase of counseling for sexual assault and abuse survivors typically involves a psychosocial assessment. The assessment will cover the client’s familial, medical, and work-related history, as well as current and past mental health issues. This part of counseling focuses on building trust between the therapist and client, and facilitating a space that feels supportive and safe. 

2. Higher levels of support: 

“With adult survivors of sexual assault, I always encourage them to contact a Rape Crisis Counselor (RCC) right away. If the survivor decides to get a sexual assault exam, the RCC can support them at the hospital during the exam. They’ll be able to assist and advocate for the survivor to connect them to long-term care services, legal services, and support groups.”

Robyn Veazie, MS

“I’ll always provide clients with important resources to know about if they decide to seek medical attention and/or if they are considering reporting the crime. A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) is a registered nurse who is trained and able to conduct a forestic exam and may provide testimony if the client decides to report the crime.”

Robyn Veazie, MS

3. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Survivors of sexual assault often struggle with unhealthy thoughts and beliefs sorrounding their traumatic experience(s). With CBT, the survivor will learn how to identify their negative thoughts, and challenge unhelpful beliefs. In turn, they will learn how to develop healthier thought patterns and behaviors that enrich their lives. 

4. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): 

“I’ll use Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) when I’m working with children and teens who are healing from trauma, and their caretakers. It’s a short-term therapeutic modality designed to help survivors cope with their trauma, and help caregivers understand how to best support their child. 

 Robyn Veazie, MS

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) involves multiple approaches: 

• Psychoeducation: teaching the survivor about the normal reactions to traumatic experiences to help reduce feelings of guilt and shame for what happened
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: helping the survivor learn to identify thoughts and perceptions that create distorted and unhelpful views, and learning to replace them with clear and helpful thoughts 
• Trauma narration and processing: safely and slowly revisiting and processing the details of the traumatic event(s), with the goal of reducing triggers and calming emotional/physical activity
• Coping Skills: relaxation techniques like mindfulness/meditation, deep breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, identifying and redirecting unwanted thoughts 

• Caregiver Involvement: rebuilding trust between the child and caregiver and helping the caregiver learn how to be a supportive resource for their child

5. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a trauma-therapy which focuses on the survivor’s memory of the event. It is intended to change the way the memory is stored in their brain. 

EMDR involves the use of back-and-forth eye movements or a bilateral (left/right) stimulation to help process triggering memories related to trauma. During EMDR therapy, the therapist will help the survivor tap into old memories and successfully process them, changing how they are stored in the survivor’s brain. 

With time, the survivor can become more desensitized to the traumatic memories surrounding their sexual assault.

It’s important to know that there are many different therapies which can treat survivors of sexual assault. Depending on the survivor’s personal situation, background, and wants and needs, the therapist will determine which treatments are most appropriate.

Connecting Survivors to Sexual Assault Resources:

In addition to working with a mental health professional, survivors of sexual assault can find support through connecting with national and community-based sexual assault support groups, including: 

• The National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline: Anyone affected by sexual assault can find support on the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline.  Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.
• Safe HelpRoom: For sexual assault survivors in the military to connect with and support one another in an anonymous, confidential, and moderated online group chat environment. 
• Rape Crisis Centers in Massachusets
• Sexual Assault Peer Support Group- Wildflower Alliance: An intentional space for survivors of sexual trauma to talk about their experiences and find healing through community.
• HelpRoom Online Support Groups: A reoccurring online support group for anyone affected by sexual violence: including survivors, and friends and family members of survivors. 
• Sexual Assault Survivors Anonymous: A program of recovery for individuals affected by sexual assault.

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

If you or your loved one is a survivor of sexual assault or sexual abuse, our trained therapists in Massachusetts are here for you.

Our expert therapists for sexual assault counseling offer in-person therapy from our offices in Amherst, West Springfield, Franklin, Natick, and Wilbraham. Many of our therapists also offer online sexual assault counseling in Massachusetts.

Contact us today at (413) 343-4357 or request an appointment online!

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