Therapy is a critical component to recovery after a traumatic experience, especially one like sexual assault. There are so many types of therapy and it can be difficult to know where to start. I am going to discuss a few of the common types that you may choose to pursue.
Talk Therapy
This is probably the most common type and there are many subtypes of it as well. The basics of talk therapy involve you meeting with a therapist either in person or virtually. You discuss what is going on in your life, your therapist will ask some questions, and you will gain strategies to try to navigate your feelings or situation in a new way. I truthfully do not find this to be as beneficial for working through my assault. I have blacked parts of it out and it is not something that my brain is comfortable with at this point.
EMDR Therapy
This type stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Basically it is where you follow a light back and forth with your eyes or perform another type of bilateral movement as you let your brain focus on a target image. You do this in short bursts of time and your therapist will guide you along the way. It is their job to make sure that you do not become too overwhelmed and help you re-regulate after your session. I find this to be incredibly beneficial to my processing of trauma (although it can be very hard).
Support Groups
Another thing you can do is join a support group for survivors of sexual assault. These groups can help you build connections with others who understand what you are going through. You have people you are working through things with. These are often led by experts in sexual assault and/or therapists. This is not something that I have tried, so I cannot speak to its effectiveness, but I can understand the desire to talk to someone who understands.
In Conclusion
The truth is, you have to find what is effective for you and your brain. Everyone is different. The most important thing is for you to be comfortable with your therapist and build trust with them. If you do not have that connection, you will likely not feel like you can talk about the assault with them. It is okay to find a new therapist if you do not feel comfortable with the one you have.
