Sexual Abuse or Assault

I've worked with victims of childhood sexual abuse and helped them through the trauma and shame that effects their lives for so long after the abuse is gone. I create a safe space and use trauma informed as well as strength based methods to gently work through the issues.

We have experience working with domestic and international sex and labor trafficking survivors and women and men who have been sexually or physically assaulted and struggling to find peace.

I work toward creating safety and a nonjudgmental place for people to unfold the multiplicity of emotional experiences that come with sexual abuse, assault, and intimate partner violence. Healing from post-traumatic stress disorder necessitates a holistic approach. Fierce compassion, honoring a person's dignity, and stabilizing the nervous system can achieve recovery of lost or abandoned parts of ourselves, so that we can return home to our body as a haven.

Healing from sexual violence can be an incredibly challenging road. I work closely with the LGBTQ+ community, which is experiencing an epidemic of sexual violence. For LGBTQ survivors, their very identities and the fear of discrimination can prevent them from seeking help and healing. I stand with you and am here as a resource to aid in therapeutic and trauma processing.

As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I am deeply aware of the painful and often debilitating challenges that this experience presents. For the last two years I have been a participant in the three-year Somatic Experiencing Training Program (SE)ⓒ for resolving trauma, much of which focused on inescapable attack and sexual assault in particular. I feel well-equipped to facilitate your healing in this area, and to help you regain a sense of wholeness for having fulfilling relationships.

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.

All forms of trauma can cause excruciating symptoms. Trauma perpetrated by other people, especially when sexual in nature, comes with its own particular challenges. I spent over four years working exclusively with survivors of sexual trauma and can bring extensive training and experience to the conversation. If past trauma is still infringing upon your present, you deserve to have space and support for healing.

Many prefer to think childhood sexual abuse and trauma is rare and occurs only in other countries, but the heartbreaking truth is a minimum of 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men have suffered sexual trauma by the age 18. Adult survivors find that few are willing to walk with them in their story and suffering, and many want them to be "over it" though the effects last a lifetime. Your story is not too much for Wild Foxgloves, we will be a witness to your suffering, and help you reclaim what was stolen.

I have worked with survivors of sexual violence for many years, and in many ways. I believe that creating safe spaces for survivors of sexual violence to share their stories is vital for survivors to be able to process and heal from their experiences. In the work that I've done with survivors, nearly always, I hear, "I thought it was just me who experienced _____." I want you to know that you're not alone. I will understand your behaviors and believe your experiences.

My previous work location was at a domestic violence safe house for women and children. I worked as the sexual assault advocate on the emergency response team. I would frequently meet with self-identifying women and children who survived a sexual assault.

Any sexual assault, harassment, or even unwanted advances from another person is a big deal. I hear all the time, “it’s fine,” nothing really happened,” I’m just overreacting,” or “I am making a big deal out of nothing.” I want every person to know that those statements are ideas and beliefs that the brain creates as a way to make sense of something that doesn’t make sense, a way to cope with the feeling of helplessness, and a way to make something feel okay even though it’s not okay. Accepting

I previously worked at the The Center for Relationships and Sexual Health in Royal Oak, Michigan. My clientele included work with LGBTQ teens and adults as well as individuals who had experienced sexual assault and trauma.

Sexual abuse impacts 1 in 5 women and 1 in 6 males. It is a painful and personal experience that can affect every aspect of both your and your child’s life. I have over ten years of experience working with children, adults, and families that have experienced sexual abuse.

My clients include adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual assault survivors, and survivors of multiple assaults.

Discrete, life-threatening experiences aren't the only experiences that can impart traumatic stress. Trauma can be caused by anything that threatens your perception of self and who you are as a person, including oppressive systems and institutions. Maybe you developed coping mechanisms, but you're looking to thrive rather than survive. Trauma informed care is the cornerstone of my work. I strongly believe in the power of collaborating with you to ensure a trustworthy and empowered relationship.

Sexual abuse can have an impact on almost every aspect of a person's functioning. It is sometimes hard to start the work to heal from sexual abuse, but our work together will assist you in discovering a life beyond the sexual abuse.

I have specialized training in working with survivors of sexual assault, and I have volunteered as an advocate for a sexual assault hotline. In my private practice, I have also contracted with agencies that provide free therapy for survivors of sexual assault.