Sexual Abuse

The statistics are staggering.  By the time they reach 18 years of age, 1 out of 3 young women has been sexually violated by someone she trusted.  For boys, the figure is 1 in 6.  These figures are conservative given that many incidents go unreported.  The effects of sexual abuse are vast and profound.  Relational difficulties, anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, post traumatic stress, and eating disorders are just a few of the ways people may attempt to cope with their abuse.  Keeping the secret of abuse feels normal and the thought of talking about it can feel taboo.  However, healing comes only as one understands that responsibility lies with the abuser and that dysfunctional behaviors are no longer useful in coping with the trauma.