Sexual Abuse or Assault

If you are hoping to not only explore but clear, memories of pain, trauma, conflict, exploitation, neglect, fear, and embedded sadness, you are welcome to contact me. EMDR as one form of interactive therapy can be very effective for many clients and can shift the way in which you are internalizing traumatic memories.

James Foley LCSW 60 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10165 www.sexuallycompulsive.com

I have over 20 years of experience working professionally and as a lay minister with sexual abuse victims. I also find it extremely helpful to address the impact of sexual abuse in all facets of life - marriage, friendship, sexuality, childbirth, parenting, etc... I am EMDR and IFS trained and incorporate other research based proven methods of helping clients find relief from the pain they are experiencing.

Since sexual abuse is a part of my own story, I know the depths of hurt, isolation, and struggle that can come from navigating these waters alone. I especially value working with men navigating stories of sexual abuse and the stigmas that are often associated with it. I want to help people begin to name what they long to heal, and begin to grieve what they are terrified to name.

Trauma is an emotional response to any circumstance where you felt hopeless and overwhelmed. Many times the trauma is in the form of sexual abuse or assault. These experiences exceed your capacity to shape your beliefs, identity, spirituality, and coping. Trauma impacts the way you see yourself, others and the world around you.

In addition to working clinically with survivors of sexual abuse and assault, I am a Staff Trainer for MVP Strategies, a gender violence prevention program founded by Jackson Katz, PhD., utilizing the Bystander Approach. I have worked for over 10 years training individuals in the US Military, the entertainment industry, college and university athletic programs, and community groups to recognize and intervene in sexual violence in their immediate cultural contexts.

After surviving sexual assault, you may feel numb and disconnected from the world or you might feel overwhelmed by emotion. I use EMDR (rapid eye movement) therapy and other techniques to help you reprocess traumatic memories to reduce debilitating trauma symptoms like “flashbacks,” panic attacks, and feeling on edge. When you no longer have that gut-wrenching feeling of fear when you’re reminded of your trauma, you’re able to make clearer decisions, feel calmer, and connect with others safely.

I have experience working with male survivors of childhood sexual abuse and the confusing consequences of this unique type of abuse. Often, male survivors of sexual abuse struggle with intimacy, relationships, perfectionism, codependency, identity, dissociation, self sabotage, and overall boundary complications across different relationships. I can support you in the process of developing a treatment plan and following through to address your individual concerns step by step.

I evaluate individuals accused (true or false allegations) of sexual abuse or assault, including child sexual abuse. I prepare comprehensive, detailed reports for defense attorneys, court officials, probation and parole officers, etc. I am especially passionate about turning around false sexual abuse allegations. When the allegations are correct, I look for mitigating circumstances, and I conduct risk assessments to help determine if the accused is a good candidate for probation or parole. I also provide treatment for actual sex offenders. I prepare very detailed, comprehensive evaluations in these cases and I am prepared to testify in court to back up my findings and recommendations.

I have taken a particular interest in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how people respond to trauma - particularly when the trauma is inflicted by those the client thought they would be able to trust. Betrayal isn't easy. There is a before and after, but surviving, even thriving is possible. Grinding one's teeth, waking with headaches, insomnia, hypervigilance, and flashbacks can all occur after such incidents, but there is hope - coping mechanisms and even recovery are possible.

Many cultures have a tendency to push issues of sexual abuse under the rug, which only adds to the pain that assault already causes. Subduing or quieting yourself in regards to what you've experienced allows shame, anger, sadness, and feelings of rejection to compound. I strive to give survivors space to vocalize what they've gone through, what they needed then, what they need now, while guiding them through giving themselves compassion, for something that the world too easily shuns.

Many people I work with have experienced childhood sexual abuse. If specific memories are not available, we work with felt sense and any memories that may present as we do the work. Treatment modalities include EMDR, focused mindfulness, Ego State/parts work and embodied skills practices.

Sexual trauma is one of the most painful traumas as it's often surrounded by so much shame and self-blame that it can take a very long time to reach out for help. As someone who has worked at sexual assault agencies in Boulder, CO, San Antonio, TX and San Francisco, CA as well as treating trauma in my counseling practice, I have seen first hand the wide spread pain and havoc that sexual trauma causes. The good news is that relief from your pain is possible and freedom is within reach.

Sexual trauma can really shake us to our core. Living in a sexist world after a trauma can be overwhelming as a woman. Toxic masculinity is prevalent in both work and home life – creating complex triggers in unlikely places. As our awareness of these intersections between trauma and sexism increase, we may feel up in arms, ready to start a revolution! But we need to take exquisite care of ourselves first or else we are left feeling overwhelmed, drained and hopeless. After a sexual trauma we often wonder – can we ever feel beautiful, sexual, and/or feminine again and still feel safe? Can we trust others – or even ourselves – again? The answer is a resounding yes. Through a multi-modal approach that infuses relational, experiential and body-oriented approaches I help clients overcome trauma, create healthy boundaries, increase resilience, reclaim their sense of self and create the lives they wish to lead.

We appreciate how challenging, complicated, and vulnerable working with those who've been abused (sexually, physically, verbally, mentally). Every single clinician in our practice has specialized training in working through trauma and abuse and paces it in a way that fosters safety, compassion, awareness, and sensitivity. We offer many ways to process trauma like EMDR, Trainspotting, Somatic Work, Parts Work, and more.

Whether the abuse happened long ago, recently, once, or was ongoing, please know that it is possible to heal and reclaim your power. With comprehensive experience helping survivors of sexual abuse and assault, I am here to help you navigate and manage the painful emotions, overpowering memories and thoughts, and persistent experience of being on edge. My experience includes supporting children, teens, and adults process and cope with sexual abuse, as well as helping family members respond.

I am trained in several trauma-informed strategies. I currently hold certification in Complex PTSD and Trauma (CCPT) Levels I and II, which incorporates EMDR, Parts Work (IFS), CPT, and Polyvagal Theory. I am well-versed in Emotional Freedom Tapping (EFT), DBT, CBT, Family Systems, Somatic Psychology, and the impact of trauma on the brain.