Sexual Trauma Therapy
Sexual Trauma Therapy in Fairfax, Virginia & Florida
Have you been struggling with the long-term effects of sexual trauma? The impact of experiences like childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, or harassment can extend far beyond the event itself — affecting your emotional health, relationships, and sense of safety.
At Cushing Counseling, we provide compassionate, trauma-informed therapy to help survivors of sexual trauma heal, rebuild trust, and reclaim intimacy. Serving residents across Virginia, Florida, and the DMV area, our goal is to support you in restoring hope and self-compassion.
Are You a Sexual Trauma Survivor in Need of Support?
Survivors often carry both emotional and physical symptoms that disrupt daily life, such as:
Anxiety, depression, and flashbacks
Feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame
Emotional numbing or disconnection
Sleep disturbances and chronic pain
Sexual dysfunction and intimacy struggles
Even when you know what happened wasn’t your fault, the burden of trauma can leave you feeling isolated, unsafe, and overwhelmed. Therapy offers a safe space to process your experiences without judgment — and begin to heal.
How Sexual Trauma Impacts Intimacy and Relationships
Trauma can make it difficult to feel safe in relationships, build trust, or experience closeness with a partner. You may want connection but struggle with:
Fear of intimacy
Avoidance of sexual experiences
Negative beliefs about worthiness of love
Using coping mechanisms (like withdrawal, anger, or substances) that damage relationships
These patterns can affect not only your romantic life, but also your work, friendships, and overall well-being.
Sexual trauma therapy helps you break free from these cycles. By addressing the root causes of fear and shame, you can restore intimacy, develop healthier coping strategies, and create a stronger sense of self-worth.
What to Expect in Sexual Trauma Therapy
At Cushing Counseling, therapy is tailored to your unique story and healing journey. Sessions may include:
Psychoeducation – Understanding how trauma affects your body, mind, and relationships
Trauma-informed interventions – To process experiences at a pace that feels safe for you
Skill-building – For emotional regulation, grounding, and rebuilding trust in yourself and others
Relational healing – Restoring intimacy, vulnerability, and connection with your partner
With consistent support, therapy can reduce trauma symptoms, strengthen emotional resilience, and help you move toward a more connected and fulfilling life.
Begin Your Healing Journey Today
You don’t have to carry the weight of sexual trauma alone. With the right support, it’s possible to release shame, rebuild confidence, and reclaim intimacy in your life.
Take the first step today by scheduling a free consultation. Together, we’ll create a personalized plan for your healing.
Sexual Trauma Prevalence & Implications
Sexual Trauma Is More Common Than Many Realize
Sexual trauma affects millions of people in the United States each year. In fact, studies estimate that 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys under age 18 experience childhood sexual abuse or assault. Survivors are significantly more likely to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, or substance use challenges compared to those without a history of abuse.
Sexual trauma can take many forms, including unwanted advances, assault, or harassment. While often underreported, its impact on mental health, physical health, and sexual well-being can be profound. Survivors may experience:
Chronic pain or sleep disturbances
Sexual dysfunction (including vaginismus or erectile difficulties)
Anxiety, depression, or flashbacks
Emotional disconnection or difficulty with intimacy
The truth is, sexual trauma is not rare — and if you are struggling, you are not alone.
The Far-Reaching Impact of Sexual Trauma
Many survivors minimize their experiences or hesitate to label them as trauma. Yet the emotional and physical effects can be lasting, influencing how you feel about yourself, your relationships, and your safety in the world.
Left unaddressed, sexual trauma can lead to:
Difficulty trusting others
Internalized shame and guilt
Avoidance of intimacy or relationships
Reliance on unhealthy coping mechanisms
These struggles are not your fault, and they are not signs of weakness. They are common responses to trauma. Healing, however, requires support, understanding, and professional guidance.
Hope and Healing Are Possible
At Cushing Counseling, we offer compassionate, trauma-informed therapy for survivors of sexual assault, abuse, or harassment. With evidence-based approaches, we help clients process trauma at their own pace, reduce distressing symptoms, and begin building trust, safety, and resilience.
No matter how long you’ve been carrying this pain, recovery is possible. With the right support, you can move toward a future where intimacy feels safe again and your self-worth is restored.
Sexual Trauma Therapy Offers Personalized, Compassionate Support
As a survivor of sexual trauma, you may see the world through the lens of shame, fear, or self-blame. At Cushing Counseling, we provide a safe, trauma-informed environment where you are supported with sensitivity and compassion. Together, we’ll work at a pace that feels right for you, addressing the impact trauma has had on your body, mind, and relationships.
Our approach focuses on helping you:
Understand how trauma affects your emotional, physical, and relational well-being
Develop coping strategies to manage symptoms like anxiety, depression, or flashbacks
Strengthen personal boundaries and improve relationship communication
Build self-compassion and reclaim your sense of safety and sexual agency
Shift your perspective from survivor to thriver
The goal is not only to reduce symptoms but also to restore your confidence, rebuild intimacy, and help you live with greater clarity and purpose.
What to Expect in Sexual Trauma Therapy Sessions
Every session provides space to process your experiences openly, without judgment. Depending on your needs, therapy may include:
Emotional regulation and stress management techniques
Trauma processing at a safe, manageable pace
Self-care strategies for both emotional and physical health
Safety planning and crisis management for moments of distress
Relationship healing and learning how to incorporate healthy consent and intimacy
Through this process, you’ll gain tools to manage difficult emotions, reduce the risk of re-traumatization, and experience meaningful growth.
Effective, Evidence-Based Modalities for Healing
We integrate proven therapeutic methods to help survivors of sexual trauma, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Challenge negative thought patterns, reduce shame, and build healthier beliefs about yourself and your experiences.
Somatic Therapy: Focus on the mind-body connection by releasing trauma held in the body and developing greater physical awareness.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy: Use grounding, breathing, and visualization exercises to ease anxiety, reduce emotional triggers, and restore calm.
Narrative Therapy: Reframe and rewrite your trauma story from a perspective of empowerment and resilience.
Healing and Moving Forward
Recovery from sexual trauma is possible with the right support. Therapy provides a safe, structured pathway to release shame, strengthen resilience, and reclaim control of your life. Many survivors find that counseling helps them restore intimacy, build trust, and create the future they deserve.
Still Unsure If Sexual Trauma Therapy Is Right for You?
Q1: Does a sexual trauma therapist maintain confidentiality?
Yes. Confidentiality is one of the most important foundations of therapy. Whether you’re seeking help for sexual assault, child abuse, or harassment, what you share in sessions is kept strictly private. As a licensed therapist, I am legally and ethically bound to protect your privacy. Information is only disclosed in rare cases where there is a risk of harm to yourself or others.
Q2: I’m worried that in sexual trauma therapy, I’ll be judged or blamed.
Many survivors carry fears of being judged, misunderstood, or not believed. At Cushing Counseling, therapy is a safe and compassionate space where your experiences will be honored, not questioned. You will be met with empathy, validation, and respect. Your story matters, and your healing is the priority.
Q3: Is it really possible to overcome the effects of sexual assault or abuse through counseling?
Yes — healing is possible. While trauma may feel overwhelming and permanent, therapy offers a proven path toward recovery. Through trauma-informed counseling, survivors often experience:
Reduced symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression
Restored self-worth and confidence
Improved relationships and intimacy
Greater resilience and coping skills
With the right support and treatment plan tailored to your needs, you can experience post-traumatic growth, regain control of your life, and move toward a future filled with hope and empowerment.
You Can Heal From Sexual Trauma
I am eager to help support you on your journey from victim to survivor. To find out more about sexual trauma therapy with Cushing Counseling, visit my contact page or call 703-475-2119 to schedule a free 15-minute call.
[1] Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, 2019 (2020).
[2] David Finkelhor, Anne Shattuck, Heather A. Turner, & Sherry L. Hamby, The Lifetime Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Assessed in Late Adolescence, 55 Journal of Adolescent Health 329, 329-333 (2014)
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1743609521005841
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