Mental Health Therapy for Sexual Violence & Abuse
You are not responsible for what happened to you and you deserve to be witnessed
and supported in your healing journey. You don’t need to suffer in silence and alone.
In Alberta, 2 in 3 women have experienced sexual violence and/or abuse in their lifetime. The impact of sexual violence can lead to pervasive and long-lasting effects such as shame, fear, guilt, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual dysfunction, substance use and suicidality.
Sexual violence and abuse can happen during childhood and/or adulthood, in your family, at the office and online among other spaces. Sexual violence includes a wide range of physical and psychological acts that are sexual in nature and that are unwanted and coerced.
Mental Health Therapy
Mental health therapy, including somatic and talk therapies, can help you process what has happened to you physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. The pervasive and long-lasting effects of sexual violence, assault and abuse need to be tended to with care, compassion and a resilient-trauma informed lens.
Research
Research has demonstrated that somatic therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Somatic Yoga, as well as psychodynamic therapy such as parts work are effective in processing the physical, emotional and psychological effects from sexual violence, assault and abuse.
My Approach
I am trained in Somatic EMDR and Somatic Yoga as well as Narrative and Parts Work therapies which are effective in working with women who have experienced sexual violence and abuse. I work from a kind and compassionate approach to support you in processing what has happened to you and to support you in reclaiming your sense of Self and authentic life.
Your Recovery Journey
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Many women have been sexually abused, assaulted, violated, trafficked and/or exploited as some point in their lives, either as children and/or as adults, as an ongoing abuse or a one-time incident. Sexual violence is one of the most devastating types of traumas that a woman can experience and which has significant impacts on a woman's physical and emotional health, and overall wellbeing. Women often experience shame, guilt and PTSD directly as a result of sexual violence.
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If you are a survivor of child sexual abuse you may experience a number of physical and mental health issues such as chronic pain and migraines, as well as anxiety, depression, suicide ideation/attempts, and low self-esteem -- symptoms that deeply impact the quality of your life.
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You are not responsible for what happened to you and you deserve to be witnessed and supported in your healing journey.
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In our work together, through somatic and talk therapies, I will support you in processing the trauma that is held deeply in your body and your nervous system. As you process traumatic experiences in a safe and compassionate environment, you will be supported to regain a sense of your Self, improve the quality of your life and your overall wellbeing.
Please reach out to me for a 20-minute free consultation to explore if we are a good fit.
You don't need to suffer in silence anymore.
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Resources
Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS)
Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse (CCASA)
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Sources
Cowen, A., & Ashai, A. (2020). Psychotherapy with survivors of sexual abuse and assault. Innov Clin Neurosci.,17(1–3):22–26
Crews, D. A., et al., (2016). The use of yoga to build self-compassion as a healing method for survivors of sexual violence, Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, 35:3, 139-156.
Lilly, M., & Hedlund, J. (2010). Yoga therapy in practice: Healing childhood sexual abuse with yoga. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, No.20, 120-130.
Montoya, C. N., & Saunt, J. V. (2024). Knowledge about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy and child sexual abuse: A scoping review. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 25 (5), 3967-3980.
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