Sexual Trauma

Generally speaking, sexual trauma (or “sexual violence”) is any unwanted or non-consensual sexual encounter that a person experiences; within this broad definition, however, lies many different types of sexual trauma. These can range from ongoing childhood sexual abuse to a single incident sexual assault in adulthood. At times individuals will not realize they have experienced a sexual trauma, especially in the case of intimate partner sexual violence.

Survivors of sexual trauma may experience PTSD and may struggle with deep feelings of shame about themselves. These symptoms can affect a person’s ability to function (especially when sex-related PTSD is present) as well as their capacity to experience healthy intimacy in romantic relationships.

Interventions with a somatic (body-focused) element (such as EMDR) are particularly helpful in processing and healing through sexual trauma. Please feel free to get in touch if you’re interested in learning how EMDR and other somatic therapies can help in healing through sexual trauma.