Sexual Abuse

Any form of sexual abuse is non-consensual and can cause lasting distress regardless of your age or gender. The compassionate licensed professionals at Hudson River Care and Counseling in Hoboken and Teaneck, New Jersey, can help you navigate life after sexual abuse with supportive counseling, group therapy, and individual care. To schedule an initial consultation for sexual abuse support, call Hudson River Care and Counseling or use the online booking feature today. 

What does sexual abuse entail?

Sexual abuse involves any sexual contact or activity that happens without the consent of one of the people involved. While violent sexual abuse experiences like rape certainly count as sexual abuse, other more subtle experiences do too. You might benefit from counseling for sexual abuse if you’ve experienced:

• Unwanted sexual touching
• Forced oral sex
• Date rape
• Childhood molestation or incest
• Sexual harassment
• Indecent and non-consensual exposure

There is no criteria for experiencing sexual abuse or violence: People of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds can be subjected to it. In fact, over half of all women and almost a third of all men in the United States have experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact. 

How does sexual abuse impact mental health?

A single abusive sexual experience can impact your mental and emotional well-being for years. As a direct or indirect result of your sexual abuse, you might develop long-lasting mental health conditions or symptoms. 

Following an incident or pattern of sexual abuse, many people develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some of its most common symptoms are:

• Insomnia
• Nightmares
• Flashbacks
• Hypervigilance
• Avoidance
• Being easily startled
• Outbursts or irritability

Sexual abuse can also trigger depression or anxiety. Many people see eventual improvements over time, but personalized counseling services can provide extra support and teach you beneficial coping skills. 

Which services can help me cope with the lasting effects of sexual abuse?

Hudson River Care and Counseling offers compassionate services to help you cope with the initial impact of sexual abuse as well as any long-term mental health challenges that arise as a result. You can personalize your experience with options like spiritual therapy, religious-based therapy, or convenient remote telehealth visits. 

Based on their findings during your initial consultation, the mental health professionals at Hudson River Care and Counseling might recommend:

Individual therapy

Individual therapy or counseling gives you the opportunity to talk through your experience and address the impact on your mental well-being. 

Group therapy or support groups

Support groups let you gather with other people who have had similar experiences. These groups are led by trained mental health professionals. 

To review counseling and support options after sexual abuse, call Hudson River Care and Counseling or book a consultation online today.