Therapy for Sexual Assault Survivors
First and foremost, we want you to know that we believe you. Our therapists believe that sexual assault is not your fault and that you did not deserve to go through what you have. If you choose to meet with one of our therapists, know that all decisions are up to you. What topics you discuss, how you talk about the assault, decisions about reporting or not reporting, as well as sharing your story with your loved ones are all choices that you make. Further, all therapy sessions are confidential. So, we will not share any of our discussions outside of our one-on-one counseling sessions.
After Sexual Assault Happens
If you have experienced sexual assault, it’s likely you may still be wondering “what happened to me?” Often after a sexual assault, survivors feel scared, angry, uncertain, and compelled to forget what happened. And you may find yourself feeling jumpy, irritable, or even looking over your shoulder to check for safety. It’s common to have nightmares or intrusive thoughts of the assault.
Furthermore, these things can make it difficult to rest, relax, or even sleep. And you may have trouble remembering things, experience an inability to concentrate, and your emotions may feel all over the place. All of these feelings and symptoms can make daily life challenging and overwhelming.
Support for Sexual Assault Survivors
Additionally, many survivors experience feelings of isolation. You may question whether you should share your assault with friends and family. On the other hand, maybe you have shared about it, but haven’t been believed or have even been blamed. And there’s a chance that when you have shared about it, you’ve lost your loved ones’ support, whether that be emotional or financial.
If any of these situations sound familiar, it makes sense as to why you may not have sought out support yet. Often, survivors have been invalidated or distrusted once they’ve disclosed their assault. However, this is not the case in therapy. Our therapists wholeheartedly believe you and what you have been through. Shaming and victim-blaming are not okay here. Instead, at our Louisville, CO counseling practice, you will be validated and supported.
Who Can Experience Sexual Abuse?
Anybody can be sexually assaulted, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, or socioeconomic status. This includes women, men, non-binary individuals, and trans+ folks. Likewise, people of all races and ethnicities can experience sexual assault. But, it must be noted that unfortunately, those with many marginalized identities are more likely to experience sexual assault than those with more normative identities. Regardless of your particular identities, our team believes you. And we believe that together, we can work through your individual circumstances to help you process, heal, and move forward.
Furthermore, sexual assault looks different in each circumstance. There is no measurement for what does or does not qualify as sexual assault. Instead, the qualifier is that due to someone else’s actions, your body has felt violated, disrespected, or unsafe. So, what someone else’s sexual assault looked like can be quite different from yours. And that is okay.
Kate’s Experience Working with Sexual Assault Survivors
Vitality Therapeutic Service’s founder, Kate Kelsey has extensive experience working with survivors of sexual assault. Before opening her private practice in Louisville, she worked at a Colorado university providing support services and therapy to students who had experienced sexual assault for six years.
While in this position, she helped undergraduate and graduate students navigate the Title IX process, file no-contact orders, and make reports to authorities or campus staff. Throughout this period, her priority was to support the survivors while helping them maintain emotional and physical safety. Along with support services, she met with students in counseling sessions to process all of the complexities that come with assault.
Our Approach to Working with Sexual Assault Survivors
Our priority in therapy is to create a safe environment. When meeting with a sexual assault therapist, it’s likely that you will discuss things you’ve never shared with another person before. And our therapists have extensive knowledge of brain functioning in regard to trauma and assault. So, they’ll use this to help you understand how and why your brain and body are reacting in particular ways. Additionally, some of our therapists are trained in EMDR therapy. This therapy is frequently used to help survivors process and move forward from assault.
While our therapists’ experience and qualifications give them the credentials to provide therapy for sexual assault survivors, their compassionate and empathetic nature will provide comfort during the process. Our hope for you during therapy is to understand how this traumatic experience has impacted you, then help you regain a sense of control in your life. We’ll talk about managing triggers and trauma symptoms, so you feel equipped to move forward.
Begin Therapy for Sexual Assault Survivors in Louisville, CO
Nobody deserves to go through this. And if and when you do, it’s so important to seek out support. The therapists at our Boulder, CO area counseling practice are ready to provide that support. To begin therapy, follow these steps.
- Book a free 20-minute consultation.
- Talk with one of our therapists to discuss if our practice is a good fit for your needs.
- Get the support you deserve to move forward with your life.
Other Therapies at Vitality Therapeutic Services
When you work with one of the skilled therapists at our Louisville, CO area practice, your needs are the focus. Whether you meet with a therapist to heal from sexual assault or for support with life transitions and overcoming perfectionism, we are here for you. Our therapists also provide couples services including premarital counseling, counseling for new parents, and help for communication issues. You can access any of our services from anywhere in Colorado with online therapy. If you have more questions about us, check out our blog and FAQs page.