Coming to terms with and processing experiences of sexual abuse can be profoundly painful and incredibly healing. Our Trauma Therapists will help you connect the dots between your past experiences and your current difficulties. You can overcome trauma, allowing you to return to a sense of safety, nurture deep connections, and find healthier ways forward.
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You Are Not Alone
According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women globally experience sexual violence. Despite Canada’s generally low crime rate compared to the United States, sexual aggression against women seems to follow global patterns.
A study covering 15 years of data in Ontario documented sexual assault among all age groups, with rates exceptionally high for assault against children and adolescents. 18.7% of women between 15 and 19 years old reported being assaulted. Women in the Canadian Armed Forces are also vulnerable, with self-reported sexual assault twenty times more prevalent among women than among men.
The numbers are persistent over time. In one study of women on Canadian college campuses from the early 1990s, roughly ⅓ of those who dated reported one or more episodes of physical, verbal, or psychological sexual coercion.
Talking About Sexual Assault is Painful
Sexual assault is taboo in many spaces, leaving survivors with no means of support. Women who have been assaulted often feel guilt, shame, and confusion. Many women can carry the pain for years or decades without finding a safe space to explore and address their feelings, which are only compounded by the sense of isolation they feel.
You may have been abused by a stranger or by a close family member. The memory may be sharp and clear, or it may be fuzzy and difficult to recall details. No matter the nature of the abuse and the extent to which you can remember it, the pain you feel is valid, and we are here to help you heal.
Are You Struggling With the Effects of Sexual Assault?
If you have experienced sexual abuse or think you may have been abused in childhood, you are likely to be battling other demons. Sexual abuse can trigger or exacerbate serious mental health challenges. You may struggle in daily life and feel unable to move forward.
Some of the disorders associated with sexual abuse include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD and C-PTSD), sleep disorders, eating disorders, and addiction. Women who endure sexual assault can feel numb, experience dissociation, aggression, difficulty feeling safe, an inability to trust others, and a lack of pleasure from sex.
Other symptoms include avoiding physical and emotional closeness, flashbacks, startling easily, and difficulty creating healthy relationships. Struggles like these can have a lasting effect on your overall sense of satisfaction and happiness.
Healing From Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault
Many clients do heal from both abuse and the struggles that abuse might have triggered.
Our Trauma Therapists will carefully, gently, and patiently help you process your trauma. We will guide you in identifying external supports and developing internal coping strategies and emotional tools.
By processing trauma, you can unpack and heal from sexual abuse.
Tangible Healing
You do not have to feel trapped by your trauma—there is a way out. With expert care, therapy can put you on the road to healing. You can experience a life full of happiness and freedom.
Many clients start noticing improvements after just one or two sessions, with larger gains after seven or eight sessions. Reach out today to get started on your journey toward healing.
Reach Out Today
At The Trauma Therapy Group, we are committed to providing comprehensive trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, and grief services tailored to the unique needs of women in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, New Westminster, Port Moody, Maple Ridge, Surrey, and throughout Vancouver. Our experienced therapists are dedicated to helping women navigate the challenges of trauma and loss, offering a safe and supportive environment for healing. Whether you’re dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic event, struggling with grief, or seeking to overcome past emotional wounds, our team is here to support you on your journey to recovery. We are committed to providing accessible and effective mental health care to the women in our community. Reach out to The Trauma Therapy Group today to learn more about how our compassionate services can help you regain control and find peace.
References and More Information
Cowan, A., Ashai, A., & Gentile, J. P. (2020, January 1). Psychotherapy with Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Assault. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7239557/
DeKeseredy, W., Schwartz, M., & Tait, K. (1993). Sexual assault and stranger aggression on a Canadian university campus. Sex Roles, 28, 263-277. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289885.
Muldoon, K., Smith, G., Talarico, R., Heimerl, M., McLean, C., Sampsel, K., & Manuel, D. (2019). A 15-Year Population-Based Investigation of Sexual Assault Cases Across the Province of Ontario, Canada, 2002-2016. American Journal of Public Health, e1-e8. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305179.
RAINN. (n.d.). Effects of sexual violence. Retrieved from https://www.rainn.org/effects-sexual-violence
World Health Organization. (n.d.).
WHO. Devastatingly pervasive: 1 in 3 women globally experience violence. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news/item/09-03-2021-devastatingly-pervasive-1-in-3-women-globally-experience-violence