💜 Sexual Abuse & Harassment

🌿 Reclaiming Safety, Trust, and Healing After Trauma

Experiencing sexual abuse or harassment can shatter a person’s sense of safety, control, and self-worth. Survivors often carry invisible wounds — feelings of shame, guilt, fear, or numbness — long after the event has passed.

At Mara’s Lighthouse, we believe that healing from sexual trauma is possible. We provide compassionate, confidential, trauma-informed care for survivors of all ages and genders. Our role is not to rush your process, but to walk beside you as you reclaim your voice, your body, and your sense of self.

💭 Understanding Sexual Trauma

Sexual trauma can include any unwanted sexual experience — from harassment or coercion to assault or violation — that leaves lasting emotional, physical, or psychological harm.

It may occur once or repeatedly, and can happen in relationships, workplaces, schools, or families. Regardless of the circumstances, you are not to blame for what happened.

Common experiences after sexual trauma may include:

Flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive memories
Avoidance of certain people, places, or situations
Fear of intimacy or touch
Emotional numbness or detachment
Anxiety, hypervigilance, or panic
Depression, guilt, or self-blame
Trouble sleeping or concentrating
Difficulty trusting others or feeling safe

Every survivor’s experience is unique — healing has no single timeline or path.

⚡ The Impact of Harassment

Sexual harassment — whether verbal, physical, or digital — is a violation of boundaries and dignity. It can cause deep emotional distress, even when others dismiss it as “minor.” Over time, harassment can lead to anxiety, depression, burnout, or fear of public or professional spaces.

Our therapists help clients process these experiences in a safe, validating space, rebuild confidence, and restore a sense of power and autonomy.

🧠 The Mind-Body Connection

Trauma affects both mind and body. After abuse or harassment, the nervous system may stay in “survival mode” — always alert, ready to protect against danger. This can lead to chronic stress, muscle tension, sleep issues, or emotional numbing.

Through trauma-informed therapy, we help survivors reconnect with their bodies safely, at their own pace. Healing begins with understanding that your reactions — whether freezing, dissociating, or feeling “on edge” — were natural survival responses, not signs of weakness.

🌿 How Therapy Helps

Therapy creates a safe, private space to process what happened and begin rebuilding trust — in yourself and others. At Mara’s Lighthouse, our therapists use evidence-based, gentle approaches that prioritize empowerment and choice.

Therapy may include:

Trauma-focused CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): Reframing shame and fear into strength and understanding.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): Reducing the intensity of painful memories and triggers.
Somatic and Mindfulness-based therapy: Reconnecting with the body safely through awareness and grounding.
Narrative therapy: Reclaiming your story and identity beyond the trauma.
Support for relationships and intimacy: Rebuilding connection and trust in safe ways.

We move at your pace — always with respect, choice, and compassion.

👨‍👩‍👧 Support for Survivors of All Ages

Sexual abuse and harassment can affect anyone. Our therapists are trained to support survivors across all stages of life:

Children: Building safety, expression, and resilience through play and trust-based therapy.
Teens: Addressing identity, boundaries, and shame with compassion and understanding.
Adults: Healing from past or recent trauma, relationship rebuilding, and self-acceptance.

We also provide guidance for non-offending parents, caregivers, or partners who want to support a loved one through healing.

🤝 Integrated Care & Collaboration

Because sexual trauma can impact physical and emotional health, we provide whole-person, integrative care. Our team collaborates closely with medical providers, prescribers, and community resources to ensure complete, confidential support.

When appropriate, treatment may include:

Individual or family therapy
EMDR or trauma processing
Medication support through our in-house prescriber
Referrals to advocacy, crisis, or legal resources as needed

Your care is always guided by choice and informed consent — you are in control of your healing journey.

🌼 Rebuilding Trust and Safety

Healing from sexual abuse or harassment takes courage. It begins with small, powerful steps: believing your story, seeking help, and allowing yourself to feel safe again.

Small steps that matter:
1️⃣ Acknowledge your strength. Surviving is not weakness — it’s resilience.
2️⃣ Seek safe connection. Healing happens in relationships built on trust.
3️⃣ Allow your pace. There’s no timeline for recovery.
4️⃣ Care for your body gently. Rest, eat, move, and breathe without judgment.
5️⃣ Ask for help. You do not have to carry this alone.

💙 At Mara’s Lighthouse, we help survivors move from fear to safety, from silence to strength, and from shame to empowerment.

💖 You Deserve Healing

If you’ve experienced sexual abuse or harassment, you are not alone — and it was not your fault. Healing is possible, and you deserve care that honors your story.

👉 Click below to schedule your session and take your next step toward safety, peace, and renewal.