1. The Connection Between Sexual Trauma and Mental Health
Mishawn Glover, M.Ed., Resident In Counseling
MHA Conference
June 2017

2. Welcome

3. Overview of the Session
Introductions
What is Sexual Trauma?
What are the Mental Health Effects on Sexual Trauma?
Barriers to Treatment
Treatment Model
Compassion Fatigue/Self-Care
Closing

4. Whose in the Room?

5. Who Am I?
Master of Education in Counselor Education: Community Mental Health
Resident in Counseling-LPC
Currently a counselor for survivors of Intimate Partner, Domestic and Sexual Violence
Hotline Crisis Specialist with the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance
Certified Trauma Professional
Clinical
Family
Child and Youth

6. Who Are You Introduction Activity
Name
What you do
Something you require to feel safe in a learning environment
Something you can contribute to a create a safe learning environment
Nominate 1 recorder and 1 reporter
Pick 1 Requirement and 1 Contribution to report back to everyone

7. What is Sexual Trauma?

8. Sexual Trauma Sexual Violence or Sexual Assault
Sexual behavior that occurs without the clear CONSENT of the victim
Attempted rape
Fondling or unwanted touch
Forcing victim to perform sexual acts
Penetration of victim’s body
Mental Health American, RAINN, West Virginia University

9. Facts and Stats
1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives
46.4% Lesbian, 74.9% bisexual women and 43.3% of heterosexual women report sexual violence other than rape during a lifetime, while 40.2% gay men, 47.4% bisexual men and 20.8% heterosexual men reported sexual violence other than rape during their lifetimes
National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 2015

10. Facts and Stats Con’t Each rape costs approximately $151,423
81% of women and 35% of men report significant short-term or long-term impacts such as PTSD
Health care is 16% higher for women who were sexually abused as children
Sexual Violence is NEVER the victim/survivors fault!!!
National Sexual Violence Resource Center

11. What does mental health have to do with it?
Activity: Holding on to secrets

12. Mental health effects on Sexual Trauma
Trauma is a brain thing
Trauma is something that overwhelms our coping capacity
Trauma activates our survival responses
Fight
Flight
Freeze

13. Long-Term Effects of Sexual Violence
Feelings of guilt and shame
Lonely
Different
Sad/Depressed
Confusion
Anger
Fear
Dissociation
Intrusive thoughts
Rigid or lack of boundaries
Difficulty forming
Close relationships
Trust/Intimacy Issues

14. Mental Health Disorders Associated with Sexual Trauma
Eating Disorders
Anxiety
Substance Abuse
PTSD
Depression

15. Barriers to Treatment

16. Treatment Needs of Survivors
Freedom to explore, process and grow
Treatment should be facilitative
Awareness of own body language, feelings, beliefs, etc.
Comfortable with talking about sexual trauma
The focus of treatment should be client centered

17. HEAL Model™

18. HEAL Model™ Help Educate Affirm Liberate Stabilize Normalize
Rationalize
Educate
Trauma and Brain
Self-Regulation
Storytelling
Affirm
Feelings
Liberate
Empowerment
Resiliency
Celebrate

19. Help Assessing for Safety
They are having a normal reaction to an abnormal experience
Stability as a precursor to treatment improves the outcome for treatment

20. Educate Teach about how the trauma has effected their brain
Teach self-regulation techniques
Relationships and Trust
Healthy vs. Unhealthy
Sex vs. Love
Respect
Boundaries
Assertiveness Skills
Family dynamics
Help the survivor tell their story
Narrative therapy
Art

21. Affirm Feelings Address Connect Identify
Activities to help may include:
Mask
Positive Self-Talk
Mantras
Mirror exercises

22. Liberation
Continue to let the survivor know you believe them and what happened to them is not their fault
Celebrate milestones survivors overcome in treatment
Plan a celebration for all the hard work the survivor has done when termination happens.

24. Take Care of Self!
Activity: Self-Care Plan

25. Q & A

26. Thank You!!!