Sexual Assault & Rape

If you have experienced sexual assault, you may feel frightened, angry, ashamed, hopeless, numb, or a combination of these emotions. These are normal responses, and you are not alone. It is not your fault.

WHAT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT?

 Sexual assault is any unwanted, non-consensual sexual contact against any individual using manipulation, pressure, tricks, coercion, or physical force. It is any act a person is forced to perform or receive that includes touching of the genitals or breasts. This includes rape, sodomy, touching, or oral sex where the victim is unwilling or unable to give verbal consent, including being under 17 years old, intoxicated, drugged, or unconscious. Sexual violence can be committed by someone known to the survivor as well as a stranger.

 

 Other terms for sexual assault are:

  • Sexual violence

  • Rape

  • Date rape

  • Marital rape

  • Incest

  • Sexual abuse

  • Molestation

Mental Health Issues Resulting from Sexual Assault or Rape

 As you might imagine, there is a wide range of problems faced by those who have been victimized in a sexual assault. Among the many potential issues include those below:

  • Loss of happiness and joy daily

  • Changes in personality that affect personal relationships

  • PTSD

  • Isolation

  • Inability to trust new relationships

  • General anxiety or depression

  • Addictions to drugs and alcohol

  • Many others

Sexual assault includes:

  • Completed act of penetration of the vagina, anus, or other body orifices by any object

  • Attempted act of penetration

  • Abusive sexual contact and intentional touching

  • Non-contact sexual abuse, voyeurism, exhibitionism, verbal or behavioral sexual harassment, threats, sexual violence, taking or posting sexual photos.

Common Fears after a Sexual Assault/Rape

  • Fear it will happen again.

  • Fear of seeing the attacker again.

  • Fear of harassment from the attacker’s friends and family.

  • Fear that others won’t believe you or understand.

  • Fear that returning to a normal routine, especially if the attacker is part of it all.

  • Fear of all other men.

 
 
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How Can Therapy Help

Many survivors develop mental health conditions after sexual assault. Having a mental health concern does not make you “weak” or “broken.” People cope with trauma in different ways. 

People who have survived sexual assault can get help at Therapy for Women Beverly Hills. Therapy offers a safe, private place to get help without judgment. You do not have to handle your problems alone.

 

Treatment Approaches:

• Trauma-Focused- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

• Shame Resilience

• Motivational Interviewing

• Mindfulness

• Self-Compassion

• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Trained (EMDR)