Sexual Trauma

Sexual Trauma

Traumatic experiences are situations that are overwhelming, frightening and difficult to control. It can be helpful to process traumas with a professional. If ignored or covered up, deeper troubles can surface later on.People who have survived sexual trauma sometimes experience sexual problems like an inability to reach orgasm, lack of interest in sex, vaginismus, fear of intimacy or touching. Research indicates that about one in three women and one in seven men have been victims of sexual abuse as children.Sexual abuse lacks the essential conditions for a positive sexual experience — consent, respect, trust and safety. Children who are sexually abused are robbed of the opportunity to explore their sexuality at their own pace. Sex becomes associated with feelings of lack of control, violation, fear and mistrust. During sexual activity the survivor may have “flashbacks,” sudden images of the sounds, sights and feelings that are reminders of the sexual abuse. These reminders can interrupt the positive and pleasurable feelings they are having at the time.

Partners can become confused about the emotional distance of the survivor during sex. Sex can become a burden for the survivor and a source of rejection for the partner. Feeling powerless to help, partners can develop feelings of inadequacy or sexual difficulties themselves.

Experiencing difficulties in your sex life or relationship?

Counselling and psychotherapy can help with traumas such as rape, accidents, fire, personal injury, assault and mugging. Trauma and post traumatic stress disorder respond well to cognitive behaviour therapy.

Sex therapy can assist you to recover from the effects of abuse by helping you to develop trust, overcome their fears. Sex therapy can assist you to learn to feel safe and have healthy, pleasurable sexual experiences.

At Sex Life Therapy, trauma counselling is designed around your specific needs and targets your traumatic symptoms whether they include anxiety, depression, guilt, sleep disturbances, flashbacks or nightmares.

ISSUES FOR TRAUMA COUNSELLING

  • Accidents
  • Personal Injury
  • Abuse
  • Assault/Burglary
  • Loss & bereavement
  • Childhood trauma

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TRAUMA COUNSELLING?

  • Process traumatic events in a safe and confidential therapy setting
  • Deal with the by-products of trauma including nightmares and flashbacks
  • Relieve accompanying symptoms such as depression and anxiety
  • Develop tailor-made coping strategies to deal with traumatic effects

If you have experienced a recent trauma, or suffer from a psychological trauma, call the team at Sex Life Therapy today for an appointment.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON TRAUMA

Trauma Tip sheet @ Australian Psychological Society

Experiencing difficulties in your sex life or relationship?
Speak to a professional.

Dr. Christopher Fox and the team at Sex Life Therapy provide confidential and individualised sex therapy and relationship therapy to individuals and couples at two locations: East Melbourne and Frankston (Mornington Peninsula/Bayside).

Contact the team on (03) 9005 5213 or use the form to request a confidential chat.

 

OPENING HOURS

Mon: Fri 9:00 AM - 700 PM
Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sun: Closed