The psychological effects of sexual abuse, especially for children, often persist for years after the physical abuse occurs, often leading to anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other mental health issues. Therapy, support groups, and medical interventions are key to many survivors’ recovery and healing. When seeking trauma-informed care, you have the right to feel safe and supported and to be heard without judgment.
On This Page
- Sexual assault and abuse affect countless people nationwide every year, often causing lasting trauma and psychological consequences.
- Survivors of sexual violence have numerous options for seeking help and treatment, including individual therapy, support groups, crisis hotlines, and psychiatric care.
- If you or a loved one has experienced sexual abuse, you have legal rights and options for holding the responsible parties accountable.
Immediate Crisis Support
Immediate crisis support options like RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline and the National Domestic Violence Hotline provide immediate assistance to those who are experiencing or have just experienced any type of sexual violence. The hotlines are available by phone, text, and online chat. RAINN also provides recovery resources and referrals to local treatment options.
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE
Individual Therapy and Evidence-Based Treatments
Individual therapy is a helpful tool for many survivors to work through their experiences with a professional, develop coping skills, and address the long-term symptoms and effects.
Insurance providers typically offer therapy directories, which you can filter by specialty. The following resources also offer online directories of therapy providers: Psychology Today, Find A Therapist, Mental Health Match, and the American Psychological Association.
Among the main evidence-based approaches for individual therapy available to trauma survivors are the following:
- Cognitive Processing Therapy, or CPT
- Prolonged Exposure, or PE
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR
- Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or TF-CBT
Group Therapy and Peer Support
Survivor support groups and group therapy programs reduce isolation and allow for the sharing of experiences with other survivors. These sessions may take place in person, online, or in identity-specific groups. Common options include support groups for veterans, child sexual abuse victims, domestic violence victims, and LGBTQ+ individuals. These can help survivors know they aren’t alone and rebuild a sense of community.
Medication and Psychiatric Support
Some survivors benefit from medication for depression, anxiety, or PTSD symptoms resulting from sexual trauma. Specific medications like SSRIs and SNRIs can be particularly helpful for people with posttraumatic stress disorder, especially when used in conjunction with specialized therapy.
The PTSD Treatment Decision Aid by the VA National Center for PTSD helps patients learn about treatment options and what may work for them after experiencing trauma. It only includes evidence-based treatment options.
Medication works best when administered along with therapy and when prescribed and monitored by a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. Consult a trusted healthcare provider to decide whether to add medication to your treatment plan.
Trauma-Informed Care: What It Means and Why It Matters
Seeking a trauma-informed care provider can be crucial for survivors of sexual assault or abuse. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration describes individual trauma as an event or circumstance causing physical, emotional, or life-threatening harm. This can have lasting adverse effects on a person’s functioning and mental, physical, social, and emotional well-being.
A trauma-informed program, organization, or system realizes the full scope of the impacts of trauma and considers all potential paths for recovery into account. It also recognizes signs of trauma and responds with policies, procedures, and practices that integrate knowledge of trauma. These programs are founded on principles like safety, peer support, trustworthiness, transparency, collaboration, and empowerment.
Free and Low-Cost Mental Health Resources
Local nonprofits and community health centers in your area, such as campus health centers for college students, may provide free or low-cost mental health resources, including for individuals without health insurance.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a list of resources for sexual violence prevention, including resources for children, adolescents, women, trafficking victims, and more, as well as a list of hotlines for various types of abuse. The RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline is also free and available nationwide.
How Legal Support and Mental Health Support Work Together
Every sexual abuse survivor’s experience is unique, and what they choose to do afterward is ultimately their choice. There is no right or wrong answer after experiencing harm. Many survivors find it helpful to learn their rights and options for seeking justice and accountability through the legal process.
Pursuing a civil claim for sexual abuse doesn’t require completing therapy first, and many survivors pursue both in parallel, with documented treatment serving as evidence of damages. Neither option is required for survivors, but they should know they have options for seeking both treatment and legal accountability.
At Helping Survivors, our team provides resources to empower sexual abuse survivors and connect them with our legal partners. Learn more about your rights and options today.
