Therapy for survivors of sexual abuse in Newtown Square, West Chester, and throughout Pennsylvania
Together, We Can Heal What Hurts.
Don't Allow Past Traumatic Experiences to Continue to Control Who You Are.
Sexual assault survivors may feel like nothing they do is “good enough”. The impact of sexual assault can be physical, emotional, and psychological.
Sexual assault victims may experience a range of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, or post-traumatic stress disorder that can affect their daily lives.
The aftermath of sexual assault can also lead to social isolation or difficulties in relationships with others. Moreover, it may result in a loss of trust in authority figures and institutions meant to provide safety and protection.
Sexual assault affects people from all walks of life regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. It is a crime that should never be tolerated nor minimized. Its effects extend far beyond the immediate aftermath of the actual event.
It Is Not Your Fault.
I Can Help You Find Your Way Back to Yourself.
You're struggling at home and work. You find it difficult to concentrate and you've often wondered if you have ADHD. You feel overwhelmed by life and all the things you've agreed to do to help others. But making them happy is making you miserable.
Your continuous restlessness is causing increased stress and you feel it. Your body hurts. You don't eat but then you eat too much and feel worse. Your sleep is all over the place. Your patience is wearing thin, and you are struggling in your relationships. You may even feel like you are losing touch with reality.
The good news is that you can combat trauma and get back your life. Your body is responding to what happened to you. Your body knows what happened to you and is shouting it out to you. You may know exactly what your body is shouting about, or you might have a vague sense of what it is. That's ok. Your body knows and wants help.
The Good News: You're Only One Call Away from Feeling Better.
Life Doesn't Have to Feel This Way. Learn to Manage Your Emotional Pain.
The road to healing from sexual assault can be long and challenging, but you don't have to be alone in this process. Counseling can help you pave the way to healing.
Allow me to guide you on your path to living a pain-free life. Let’s talk about your struggles in individual therapy sessions where you can explore your emotions without shame, guilt, or fear.
I provide trauma-focused treatment and create a safe space for my clients to process their emotions and experiences related to their assault.
My therapy services include various evidence-based treatments and therapeutic methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), that will help you learn to manage symptoms of trauma such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and depression.
You Have the Power to Change the Narrative of Your Life.
Your Mental Health Depends on Your Choices.
By identifying and addressing the impact of sexual abuse, you can find your balance again.
As a mental health professional specializing in different forms of trauma, I have the skills and experience to help you overcome the impact of sexual abuse.
The process may sound overwhelming and frightening, but it doesn't have to be. Together, we can finally unload the heavy burden you've been shouldering throughout your life.
Your body will begin to relax again. You won't feel so scattered and overwhelmed anymore. You'll be able to connect with others without fear or uncertainty and your relationships will begin to thrive. Life will look and feel very different.
Things we can work on in sexual abuse therapy:
Anger issues
Patterns of unhealthy behavior resulting from past experiences
Guilt
Shame and blame
Grief about what was lost
Safe ways to interact and socialize with others
Depression
Anxiety
Ambivalence
Therapy for sexual abuse can help you:
Reconnect with your true self
Improve concentration
Set appropriate boundaries and limits with yourself and others
Improve your relationships
Learn to trust (again)
Feel empowered throughout your life
Frequently asked questions about sexual abuse
FAQs
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Sexual abuse is any form of sexual violence. This can range from unwanted looks and touching to forced sexual interactions.
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Overt sexual abuse is what is most often referred to as sexual abuse. This involves unwanted touching, molestation, or any type of sexual act, including rape and incestuous abuse.
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Covert sexual abuse (also known as covert sexual trauma) is more insidious and more difficult to pinpoint because it does not typically involve the same physical forms of contact as overt sexual abuse. Covert abuse involves breaking boundaries including:
*Privacy
*Inappropriate comments about one's developing body
*Undressing in front of adults
*Adults undressing in front of children
*Uncomfortable stares or looks
*Being told information about the abuser's adult relationships
*Watching sexually themed movies
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Sexual abuse can and does happen to anyone. It often involves a power differential where the abuser has authority or some type of control over the situation or the individual.