Sexual violence inflicts deep emotional wounds that can persist long after the physical scars have healed. Mental health support is paramount in the recovery journey, offering survivors crucial tools to navigate trauma and its aftermath. Survivors in Sojourner Center’s programs are often referred to Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) for therapy. JFCS integrates mental health services with primary medical care to serve individuals and families with multiple healthcare needs. Sojourner Center understands the importance of mental health and appreciates strong community partnerships to provide professional help to survivors.
The Role of Mental Health Support:
- Addressing the trauma head-on is a primary focus of mental health support. Through trauma-focused therapy, survivors can process their experiences, alleviate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and regain a sense of control over their lives.
- Emotional management is another key aspect of mental health support. Survivors often grapple with a range of intense emotions, such as fear, shame, guilt, and anger. Therapy provides a safe environment for survivors to explore and express these emotions, aiding in their healing process.
- Long-term effects of sexual abuse, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, are also areas where mental health support plays a vital role. Therapy helps survivors manage these conditions, and helps prevent them from interfering with their daily lives and fostering long-term healing.
Mental health support is crucial in the journey of healing from sexual abuse. Sojourner Center strives to create a safe space where survivors can address their trauma, manage their emotions, and cope with the long-term effects of abuse.
Sources:
National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Impact of Sexual Violence. https://www.nsvrc.org/statistics
American Psychological Association. Understanding Child Sexual Abuse: Fact Sheet. https://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/understanding-child
American Psychological Association. Understanding Sexual Assault and Abuse: Fact Sheet. https://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/understanding-sexual
National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Effects of Sexual Violence. https://www.nsvrc.org/effectsofsexualviolence
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