Sexual Assault & Abuse Survivors
There is so much shame ingrained in our society regarding sex, sexual trauma, and gender roles. Not to mention… just mentioning these topics. Child and adult survivors of sexual assault (and ALL forms of unwanted sexual experiences) often suffer in silence. Sometimes survivors have spoken up and have faced disbelief, victim-blaming, or repercussions in their friendships or relationships. At Heartland Therapy Connection we BELIEVE you and we believe you are worthy of healing.
Sexual assault or abuse can inflict severe physical and emotional pain that can significantly impact your daily life. Survivors often experience intense anxiety, recurrent and distressing thoughts or memories of the abuse, and feelings of self-hate, guilt, panic, and a lack of safety. Physical symptoms may include chest pains or digestive issues, and survivors might feel jumpy, startled, or plagued by nightmares and disturbed sleep. Additionally, depression, dissociation, numbness, avoidance of reminders, difficulty concentrating, trust issues, and anger are common. Traumatic experiences are processed differently in the brain, which shifts into “survival” mode during such events. As a result, emotions, memories, and reminders can become trapped in the brain’s emotional centers.
Heartland Therapy Connection counselors are here to help survivors develop coping skills to reduce the severity of their symptoms and feel safe in the face of distress or danger. As a client’s distress lessens, they can begin to move forward with their life. Providing support for our clients is Heartland Therapy Connection’s primary goal. Our counselors utilize a wide range of evidence-based approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Narrative Therapy. These methods not only provide relief, but can be useful in organizing confusing thoughts or mixed feelings for overall healing.
Call or send us a message online to schedule a consultation with one of Heartland Therapy Connection’s counselors today.
Our Services
We Care
Every member of the Heartland Therapy Connection team is here because we want to help others.
We understand that life can throw some serious difficulties in your path. Knowing that, we firmly believe that we are all #BetterConnected.
Our goal is to use our education and experience to walk along this path with you. We will try our hardest to help you overcome trauma and learn valuable life skills so that you can thrive.
