Counseling
Types of Treatment Used
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is one of the primary treatments of choice when working with victims of trauma, including rape and sexual abuse. It is used to assist trauma victims in reframing the irrational and negative thoughts and beliefs related to the trauma. TF-CBT allows the therapist to present educational information to clients, have the clients practice the new information in sessions, allows the client to create a trauma narrative of their experience, and then process the feelings around their trauma incorporating their new education. Parents and caregivers are brought into sessions when appropriate.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is primarily used when working with victims of trauma, such as rape and sexual abuse, and a clinician is required to receive additional training to be certified in this type of treatment. Thanks to EMDR, SAC therapists are able to help clients move through unresolved issues stemming from rape and sexual abuse and reach a place of healing not as easily attainable with regular, longer term psychotherapy.
Play Therapy
Play therapy is theoretically based and assists children in expressing their feelings related to sexual abuse through activities and games. Children communicate through play as adults communicate through language. For this reason, play therapy offers children a safe and comfortable way to express and process their thoughts and feelings about their trauma. Play therapy uses sand trays, art, dollhouses, and games in sessions to help children recover from the sexual abuse.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is used to reach a person’s subconscious mind where the emotions, memories, habits and intuitions are located. The subconscious is accessed through relaxation in the therapy session. This technique is beneficial for trauma victims to assist in accessing and processing feelings related to the traumatic event(s) that have been suppressed or avoided. Hypnotherapy can have long lasting, positive effects and advance the healing process.