This article discusses sexual assault and trauma recovery.
The aftermath of sexual assault can deeply affect many aspects of a person’s life, including the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other negative effects. PTSD can bring significant difficulty to a person’s life, as it has symptoms such as intense nightmares, severe anxiety and depression, recurring trauma flashbacks and physical health problems. Studies have revealed that up to 94% of sexual assault victims experience PTSD symptoms within two weeks after their assault, with around 50% experiencing long-term effects. Although it cannot remove pain, different forms of therapy can help victims in their healing journey and can prevent PTSD.
The goals of therapy are for victims to help them make sense of their trauma, develop healthy coping mechanisms, release shame and self-blame, find a healthy support system and rediscover joy. These goals can be achieved in different ways, as there are many forms of therapy.
A common form of therapy is trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy. This therapy has three stages. The first is focused on helping victims to regulate and express emotions while learning to combat negative thoughts and beliefs. The second phase helps victims to face their trauma directly. A therapist guides the victim as they process the details of their trauma and helps them to remove fear from their memories. In the last phase, victims work with their therapist to find and utilize healthy coping mechanisms in their daily life.
Another common form of therapy for sexual assault victims is prolonged exposure therapy. This consists of a victim repeatedly processing the events of their trauma and gradually exposing themselves to traumatic triggers. Overtime, this repetition helps individuals face their trauma without fear and reduce avoidant behaviors that can lead to PTSD.
An additional form of therapy is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR). EMDR is a form of therapy specialized for victims who struggle with different forms of PTSD. This therapy consists of bilateral stimulation, like back-and-forth eye movements, touch or sound. This form of therapy was developed based on the theory that the brain stores traumatic memories differently than it does non-traumatic ones. The goal of EMDR is to help change the way that the brain stores these memories. EMDR is beneficial to individuals who struggle to openly talk about their trauma, as a person does not need to speak once the bilateral stimulation begins in their session.
There are additional therapeutic options that vary from one-on-one time with a therapist. Group therapy provides victims with the opportunity to share and heal alongside other victims who have gone through similar experiences, reducing feelings of isolation while building support systems. Forms of therapy like art therapy and expressive therapy allow individuals to non-verbally process and express their trauma through arts, music, dance and drama. Mindfulness-based stress reduction is a form of therapy that helps victims focus on present awareness and reduce responses linked to their trauma.
A person who has been through a traumatic experience should consider going to therapy, as studies have shown that therapy can reduce the effects and development of PTSD. When seeking a therapist, an individual should consider their traumatic experience, their level of comfort with the specific therapist and their treatment approach.
If you or someone you know is struggling after an assault, reaching out to a trauma-informed therapist can be the first step towards healing. There are national resources such as the RAINN hotline (1-800-656-4673) and local sexual assault response centers that can provide support and connections to different therapists. It is important to remember that healing is not a linear process; healing is a journey made up of setbacks and breakthroughs, with each person’s journey being unique to them. With the right support and resources, victims can move forward and build meaningful lives after trauma.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.