I have treated sexual abuse survivors for many years. Many of my clients have never discussed their abuse with anyone else and I have been honored that they have been comfortable enough with me to begin to disclose and work on this difficult issue. Unfortunately working through this process can take long term effort. With the right therapeutic fit, you can be victorious in not letting this trauma color your entire life. Please get the help you need, you don't have to walk through this alone. I'm happy to spend some time on the phone with you before your first appointment to make sure you feel comfortable working with me.
Pre-Licensed Professional, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
My heart in working with survivors of sexual abuse is to help them reclaim their voice, choice, and empowerment as they pursue healing. Together we will approach your story from a trauma informed mindset that cares for the mind/body/spirit connection and seek to restore your connection to your body, healing from your abuse, and any other goals you may have.
At New Horizon Counseling Center we offer individuals, couples and family counseling in a group practice setting with licensed counselors and social workers. Our trained, caring therapy staff offer a variety of approaches to meet the specific needs of each client in a safe and calm setting.
We have over 10 counselors at 3 locations with various specialities including sexual abuse. Several of our counselors work with either children or adults in regards to sexual abuse and related issues.
Counseling is a safe place where you can process and grow through what happened to you so that you can live a meaningful life. As a trauma therapist, I have extensive training in crisis and trauma counseling, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for those recovering from trauma and other distressing life experiences.
Sexual abuse is much larger problem than most people realize. One in four women have a history of sexual abuse. One in 7 men. These are just the reported cases. We keep it a secret for years. It destroys our sense of self. We feel less than, dirty, not good enough, and terrified it will happen again. We cannot block out the memory. It is a depressing and overwhelming. I use Cognitive Processing Therapy, a 12 session approach to reducing symptoms of trauma. If clients are open to using art, we add it as a way to go deeper and better express what is difficult to express verbally.
In my years of providing trauma therapy to survivors of sexual assault, I have seen the ways in which sexual trauma can devastate the survivor's sense of safety, trust, self-esteem, and their ability to form meaningful connections with others. Sexual abuse can leave psychological wounds that impact many aspects of life. By seeking professional support in the aftermath of this type of violation, you have taken a significant step toward taking back power and self-direction. You deserve to be heard, understood, and supported as you grapple with your experiences and move toward healing.
If you are struggling with the impact of sexual assault, I encourage you to reach out to me today to discuss how I can support you in your journey.
I worked as a lead counselor on several Government issued grants providing counseling for victims of sexual abuse. I also collaborated with the local Child Advocacy Center in providing counseling for children and teens who have been sexually (and physically) abused.
You don’t talk much about that day, but it still upsets you. That traumatic experience has infected all the other parts of your life. You find yourself avoiding situations and people that remind you of it. It’s getting to the point that your spending most of your life avoiding things. And that memory hurts. Sometimes you feel like your broken, and wonder if your life will ever feel “normal” again. You’ve tried to talk to family, but they can’t do much more than lend a sympathetic ear. And you’ve been to therapy, but you just talked about the trauma over and over, and that didn’t really seem to help anything. So is this it?
When I work with clients struggling with trauma I use an intervention called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). While I could tell you all the neuroscience, what really happens in EMDR is we drain all of the emotions from your traumatic memory and install a positive belief about yourself.
Through EMDR we help you finally recover from the past. You can discard the negative beliefs about yourself that traumatic experience made you believe, and you can recapture a healthy and positive life. You need a trusted guide to help you through your trauma, and I can help. Call today to schedule a free initial 15 minute consultation.