How pervasive is sexual assault? According to information collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over half of all women and close to one in three men have experienced some form of sexual assault involving physical contact during their lifetimes.
In the eyes of the law, there were many levels of sexual assault classifications, from misdemeanor sexual battery to aggravated sexual assault. No matter what the assailant is charged with, the survivor will be left with a form of trauma that can impact every aspect of their life.
A sexual assault survivor might find a measure of comfort with the support offered by an experienced sexual assault abuse lawyer like one you would find at Forbes Law Offices. We understand the sensitive nature of these crimes and can provide support and guidance to the survivors to help them find a measure of justice.
The state will prosecute the assailant. We can pursue a claim against them and any other responsible party to hold them accountable and compel them to compensate the survivor for pain and suffering.
While these civil complaints are being pursued, survivors of sexual abuse can seek out many forms of supportive therapy. These therapies can provide a wide range of benefits for sexual assault survivors.
The following are some of the ways that therapy can help survivors of sexual abuse recover.
Providing a Safe Space
A crucial aspect of therapy is creating a safe space for a survivor to share their trauma. This might be extremely difficult at first, but once survivors understand they can share their feelings with a supportive and objective therapist who won’t judge, they can more easily open up.
Feeling seen and being heard can have a positive impact.
Processing the Trauma
An unwanted sexual assault can leave the survivor in a kind of desert of trauma. They will feel alone, ashamed, and betrayed. That is especially true when the assault was carried out by someone they trusted, like someone in the family or a member of the clergy.
When a survivor engages in consistent therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), where they talk through what happened, they can begin to process their trauma. A survivor who goes through therapy might begin to experience more flashbacks and nightmares of the trauma. Reliving what happened can be part of the healing process.
Developing Coping Mechanisms
The survivor of a sexual assault can find themselves getting triggered by sounds, smells, and sights. These moments can manifest in panic attacks that can be extremely debilitating. Through therapy, a survivor can develop various coping mechanisms that will help them recognize when their anxiety levels are rising and teach them how to reduce the stress. These skills will be practiced in therapy to bring them into the survivor’s daily life.
Releasing the Shame
The survivor of a sexual assault will often feel shame at what happened to them. They might think that something they did or said contributed to the assault, as if they should be blamed. A therapist can guide the survivor through the trauma and help them recognize that this was an assault that wasn’t their fault. That helps them reframe the assault and let them take back their power.
Developing Healthy Relationships
The aftermath of a sexual assault can fracture the relationships the survivor has with a spouse or family. The survivor might withdraw and resist any form of meaningful relationship. This is especially hard on someone in an intimate relationship with a partner. Therapy can include the partner to help them make sense of what happened and rebuild the connections to a healthy relationship.
Being Happy Again
It might not seem like it, but a survivor of a sexual assault can find their way back to being happy again. Through therapy, they will be able to process what happened, develop the tools and perspective to remove the shame, and let them find pleasure in the things they have always enjoyed.
Build a Support System
Therapy after an assault emphasizes the importance of building a strong support system. That system can start with the therapist and expand to trusted friends, family, and spouses. It can also include legal support for pursuing a remedy.
If there’s an opportunity to hold the assailant and any other responsible parties accountable, it should be taken, and our team from Forbes Law Offices can help with that aspect of the recovery.
Call to schedule a consultation to discuss all the available options for seeking a remedy.
