Sexual Abuse

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. – Psalm 29:11

Feeling powerless is a common phenomenon for victims of sexual abuse and trauma. Most survivors experience fear, confusion, shame, and sadness. At Spokane Christian Counseling, we provide a safe place where you can voice your emotions and find hope for healing through Jesus Christ. The recovery process will look different for each person. We are sensitive to the individual needs of our clients and strive to show the utmost compassion and care for your situation. Your counselor will meet you where you are and work at your pace, using trauma recovery counseling techniques that suit your unique experience and needs for healing.

Do I Need Counseling?

After suffering a traumatic experience like sexual abuse, many need help dealing with the serious, often life-altering effects. The intense, emotional damage that sexual abuse can cause often leads to a variety of obstacles, many of which can be difficult to overcome without help. If you or your child suffered sexual abuse or assault, Christian counseling can help you move forward.

You might benefit from Christian trauma counseling if you currently experience:

• Anxiety and Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Self-destructive Behavior
• Relationship Problems
• Substance Abuse
• Sexual Addiction
• Dissociative Identity Disorder
• PTSD

Even after living through horrific experiences like sexual abuse, God provides us with the strength we need to carry on. He is the healer of our hearts and souls. With His help and the guidance and support of your counselor, you can be restored to wholeness in a way you might not have thought was possible.

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. – Psalm 107:13

If you feel isolated and trapped by secrecy because of the abuse you’ve suffered, let us encourage you by assuring you that you are not alone. We have Christian counselors ready and waiting to come alongside you to ease your pain and relieve your heavy burden.

Getting help could be the best decision you make. Living with the effects of sexual abuse can be devastating, especially when carrying the weight alone. Finding a safe place to unload that burden can be a huge relief in itself. Through compassionate Christian counseling, you can find your voice, work toward healing deep wounds, and the breaking the strongholds hindering a full life.

Was I Sexually Abused?

Feeling confused about whether or not you were sexually abused is actually very normal, especially with regard to sexual abuse in childhood and in romantic relationships. If you found us and you’re asking yourself that question, chances are you are a victim of sexual abuse. Many people have a hard time coming to terms with this realization – most often it’s best to do so with a trained sexual abuse counselor to help you navigate this difficult terrain.

Has My Child Been Sexually Abused?

If you suspect that your child or teen has been sexually abused, get help right away. One of the first steps is to have your child or teen examined by a physician. From there, you might need help with legal matters. At Spokane Christian Counseling, our role is to help your child heal emotionally and spiritually while supporting you in the process. Sexual abuse in child and teen years can have lasting, detrimental effects on a person’s well-being, especially without mental health counseling.

Sexual abuse includes:

• Non-consensual, forced physical sexual contact.
• Psychological forms of sexual abuse such as sexual harassment and indecent exposure.
• Exposing children and teens to sexual acts or pornography.
• Invasion of the victim’s privacy for the purpose of sexual gratification.
• Violent acts which harm sexual parts of the body.
• Using derogatory statements that are sexual in nature.

Children who have been sexually abused are often too afraid or confused to reach out for help. Many don’t even realize that they are being abused. By knowing the signs of sexual abuse, you have a better chance at discovering the abuse early on, even when your child is unable to voice the abuse themselves.

Signs of sexual abuse in children include:

• Nightmares or sleep disturbances.
• Sudden change in eating habits.
• Sudden mood and behavior changes such as sadness, fear, or withdrawal.
• Hints at discussions regarding things which are sexual in nature.
• Fear of particular people or places.
• Playing out sexual scenarios with toys or in drawings.
• Showing adult-like sexual behavior or knowledge.
• The child is given toys or gifts from an adult frequently, without particular reason.

Teens are often very reluctant to speak out against sexual abuse, especially if the abuse has been ongoing since childhood. Whatever the case might be for your teen, recognizing the warning signs of sexual abuse in teens can be very important.

Signs of sexual abuse in teens include:

• Depression and anxiety.
• Self-injury or talk of suicide.
• Sexual promiscuity.
• Sudden changes in eating habits.
• Running away from home.
• Fear of intimacy.
• Drug and alcohol abuse.
• Failure to thrive academically and socially.

The symptoms listed above can appear in a number of different situations and don’t necessarily guarantee the presence of sexual abuse. Even so, if your child shows any of these signs, there is a problem and you should seek help. Spokane Christian Counseling offers skilled child and teen counseling for a wide variety of childhood and adolescent matters, including Christian counseling for sexual abuse.

Our ultimate goal is for you to find peace and healing. As part of the process, your counselor will help you express your emotions, understand the abuse, and work toward processing those emotions. With time and your counselor’s guidance, you will then work on overcoming damaging thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors you might have utilized to deal with that pain. Whether you’re a victim of sexual abuse in childhood, were sexually assaulted as an adult, or lived through a sexually abusive relationship, Christian counseling offers you hope and tools for whole-person wellness.

Christian counseling for sexual abuse can help you:

• Better understand your own behaviors or emotions related to the abuse.
• Process your memories so they no longer control your behavior and emotions.
• Understand that you are not to blame for the assault.
• Work through issues of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• Understand the effects of childhood sexual assault and normalize your responses.
• Work through issues related to dissociation and dissociative disorders.
• Regain a sense of normalcy and peace in your life.
• Overcome issues of codependency and other negative relationship patterns.

Sexual Abuse Counseling for Children and Teens

If your child or teen has been a victim of sexual abuse, they are at high risk for developing a variety of mental health issues now and in the future. Sexual abuse in teens and children affects how they view and interact with the world and can lead to things like eating disorders, substance abuse, depression, and much more. Dealing with the pain they feel now will help your child live a fully-functional, healthy life. At Spokane Christian Counseling, our compassionate and highly-trained child and teen Christian counselors will partner with you and Christ to help your child heal.

Click here to learn more about Christian counseling for children and teens.

Figure 1: According to Rape Abuse and Incest National Network, 44% of sexual abuse cases involve children.

Christian counseling for sexual abuse can help your child:

• Communicate their experiences with sexual abuse.
• Process their emotions and understand their responses to the abuse.
• Understand the difference between unhealthy and healthy relationship behaviors.
• Build self-esteem, find security, and learn tools for coping with the abuse in a healthy way.
• Find their identity and true worth in Jesus Christ.

It is possible to find healing from sexual abuse and trauma. Contact us today to start your journey toward restoration.

To learn more about Christian counseling for sexual abuse and trauma recovery or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (509) 209-8961  or contact us online.