Sexual Trauma Therapy in Evansville, Indiana | Feel Like Yourself Again
I currently see adult individuals in-person in Evansville, Indiana as well as virtually throughout Indiana and Illinois.
Experiencing sexual trauma can impact so much. You don’t have to work through it alone.
You’ve Decided It’s Time To Get Some Help. I’m So Glad You’re Here!
The impact of sexual trauma can linger long after the experience itself. It can impact your sense of safety, relationships, self-worth, trust, and daily life. Despite the hopelessness that may show up, you don’t have to feel that way forever! For over a decade, I’ve worked alongside survivors navigating the emotional, physical, and relational effects of sexual trauma. Together, we’ll move at a pace that feels right for you to reconnect with yourself and begin to move forward! Healing doesn’t require forcing yourself to relive every detail of what happened. It begins with feeling safe enough to understand how trauma has shaped your life, and discovering that change is possible. Therapy offers a place to process your experiences without judgment, understand how your trauma has affected you, and develop a path toward healing that respects your experience.
Common emotional reactions after sexual trauma may include shock, disbelief, denial, embarrassment, fear, shame, guilt, anxiety, depression, numbness, powerlessness, and anger. Given that our physical and mental lives are greatly connected, some folks who’ve experienced trauma may also notice physical changes. Outside of experiencing pain during sex or intercourse, folks may experience sensory changes, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, headaches, pelvic and abdominal pain, muscular tightness, and more.
I also can’t talk about the impact of sexual trauma without mentioning how difficult it can make trusting others. Of course most survivors struggle to trust others again! Their experiences have shown them that humans are capable of doing really bad things. To our brains, trusting others is a very vulnerable step that can lead to further hurt. You may be feeling guarded or even asking yourself, “If someone is capable of hurting me like this, how could I trust anyone ever again?” As a relational therapist, I understand the importance of working through this. We are not meant to be alone, and as difficult as it can be, finding connection with others is how we feel more connected to ourselves. This process is different for everyone, and I am here to take things at your pace. Your reactions make complete sense in the context of what happened to you, and you don’t have to feel this way forever!
While many of my clients meet criteria for a PTSD diagnosis, I tend to focus more on their individual experiences. Some clients find themselves reaching out to schedule with me after they realize they are struggling to have healthy, fulfilling sexual relationships after sexual assault or abuse. You may find yourself avoiding dating altogether because it feels safer. Or maybe you have an incredibly supportive partner, but your body still tenses up whenever intimacy begins. Something that is less talked about is folks experiencing hypersexuality after sexual trauma, which can look like a major increase in sexual activities, finding it difficult to stop or reduce sexual behaviors, and using sex to cope with depression and past trauma. Everyone’s experience is different, that does not mean your reactions are wrong. Our reactions simply tell us something important about what we’ve been through! Together, we can learn from them instead of judging them. Whether your symptoms appear to be more physical, mental, or a mix of both, therapy can be a helpful place to work through your past experiences, find ways to feel more in control of your emotions, and to feel more connected in your relationships.
Signs You May Benefit From Sexual Trauma Therapy
You may benefit from sexual trauma therapy if you…
Panic during intimacy
Find yourself feeling numb all the time
Want to connect with your partner but feel like there’s a block
Avoid dating or relationships
Feel disconnected from your body and/or relationships
Experience nightmares
Avoid physical touch
Struggle to trust others
Experience pelvic pain without a medical explanation
Feel shame related to sexuality
If you recognize yourself in one or more of these experiences, you’re not alone. Many survivors wonder whether what they’re experiencing is “normal” or whether therapy could actually help. Seeking help for anything can be scary, and seeking therapy for sexual trauma healing can be terrifying. Whether you’ve never been in therapy before, or have tried and not had great experiences, scheduling the first phone consultation or appointment can feel really overwhelming! I understand this on a personal level, and do my absolute best to take treatment at a pace that feels right for you.
From our first session on, I emphasize only sharing what you are comfortable with! In our first session together, there are no expectations. I really just want to start getting to know you, and my only goal is to gather an overall picture of your life. We’ll explore how things were for you growing up, who you consider family now, how culture and spirituality influence you, your relationships, your interests, your community, and the goals that brought you to therapy.
After our initial intake, we will really dive into our work together. As a trauma-informed therapist, I open most sessions by asking clients if there is anything they want to make sure we get through that day, and create a pace that feels safe and collaborative from there. We will either focus on what is coming up for you the most, or I can take a more directive approach, too. Regardless of the content of the session, I aim to incorporate safety, collaboration, and healing into all aspects of our work.
Healing From Sexual Trauma Starts With Feeling Safe
Research consistently shows the relationship between you and your therapist is one of the strongest predictors of successful therapy. In non-clinical terms this simply means if you vibe with your therapist, you’re more likely to get the results you want from therapy!
First and foremost I work to create a therapeutic relationship where you feel safe enough to work through the really hard stuff. For some this comes quickly, and for others that may struggle with trust it can take time. If you are coming to therapy to work through relational trauma, it would make sense that you might struggle to trust your therapist! I always keep this in mind during treatment.
Outside of creating a safe and affirming relationship, I tend to pull from a few different therapeutic modalities. The main ones I tend to focus on in my individual therapy sessions are Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and Experiential Therapy. (You can learn a bit more about them on my “About Me” Page here!) This means I focus on how your relational experiences shape who you are today, provide psychoeducation on how trauma may impact current behaviors, explore how the different parts of you can help you get to where you need to be rather than running your life, and help you find realistic ways to feel more in control of your emotions and relationships. I also incorporate therapeutic art into treatment if clients are interested! (You don’t have to be “good at it” - I promise!)
Frequently Asked Questions When Beginning Sexual Trauma Therapy
Do I Have to Talk About What Happened?
Nope! Everyone’s path in therapy is different. If part of your healing includes talking through some of the details of your trauma, we will work through that at an appropriate pace. However, I am a firm believer in the fact that you do not have to retell every detail of your trauma to work through it. Some of my clients feel validated in explaining what happened, and others need more help with managing current symptoms before they can even access that part of their life. Also, some folks don’t remember large parts of their experience, and that in no way means they cannot get help. If you don’t know what might feel best for yourself, we can figure it out together. I will never pressure you into something you’re not ready for, and if during treatment you ever feel that I do, I always appreciate feedback and the opportunity to repair.
Can Therapy Help if the Trauma Happened Years Ago?
Absolutely! I have worked with a large range of survivors in terms of where they are at in their processing journey. Some folks come to me a couple of weeks after they experienced the event, and others come to me decades after experiencing childhood sexual abuse. There have also been times where clients come to therapy for a totally different reason, and throughout treatment we realize an event that happened years ago is actually still impacting them more than they realized. No matter where you’re at on your timeline, therapy can be beneficial.
I’m LGBTQIA+. Is This a Safe Space for Me to Discuss My Sexual Trauma?
Always! Queer and trans folks experience sexual trauma at disproportionately higher rates than the general population, yet many have also had experiences of not feeling seen, understood, or respected when reaching out for support. For some, healing from sexual trauma is also intertwined with experiences of discrimination, family rejection, religious trauma, harassment, or having parts of their identity questioned or invalidated. Those experiences matter, and they deserve space in therapy if they are important to you.
I strive to create a therapy space where you do not have to educate me about your identity before we can begin the real work. Whether your sexual trauma is directly connected to your LGBTQIA+ identity or not, I want you to know that all parts of you are welcome here. You won't have to choose between talking about your trauma and talking about your identity. If both are important to your healing, then both deserve space in the room!
Together, we'll move at a pace that feels safe, honor your lived experiences, and focus on helping you build the life and relationships you want. If you're looking for a therapist with additional experience supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals and relationships, you can learn more about my approach on my LGBTQIA+ therapy page.
What if Talking About It Makes Me Feel Worse?
It doesn’t always look like the movies. Actually, it really never does. You don’t go to a couple of therapy sessions and then life feels like butterflies and rainbows. (Ah, wouldn’t that be nice!) When working with topics that are often very complex, vulnerable, and messy, therapy can bring up very heavy things. As someone who has worked with survivors in different capacities for over a decade now, I know that sometimes things feel a bit worse before they start to feel better. Because of this, I am always checking in with how you are doing, providing tools for emotional regulation along the way, and finding ways to create safety as you leave the session so you are not completely dysregulated and overwhelmed the rest of your day!
Starting Sexual Trauma Therapy Today!
Many survivors spend years wondering if therapy could help before finally reaching out. If you’ve made it this far, you’ve already taken one of the hardest steps! Let me be completely clear: No matter what age you may have experienced sexual trauma, it should not have happened. No matter what you were wearing, no matter how you were acting, and regardless if you had taken any kind of substances, you did not deserve that. As a trauma-informed therapist, I am here to support survivors no matter where they are on their journey.
No matter where you’re at I believe you, I see you, and your story matters. Period.
Many of my clients have tried therapy with plenty of providers and are still not feeling the relief they need. I tend to be the therapist folks seek out when they are fed up with how things are going and are ready to try something different to make sustainable change. It’s often not immediate or overnight, but if you are willing and able to take the steps for a more connected life, I would be honored to go on that journey with you.
I am so proud of you for taking this step, and more importantly I hope you are proud of yourself. If you’re ready to get the process started, schedule a free 15-minute consultation call or schedule your intake today!