One of the most heinous actions against another human being is sexual assault.  Sexual assault is a broad term that can include rape but also any type of sexual activity that includes not only women, but also men and children.  In all, sexual abuse, or rape involves any type of deliberate violation of another that incurs an invasion of the body by force without consent.  It violates the persons privacy and inner space hence scarring the individual emotionally, mentally and physically due to this violation (James, 2017, p.242).   There are many forms of rape, sexual battery and assault upon numerous different victims with different genders, orientations or ages.  Sexual abuse or rape can be committed by a complete stranger, or by a partner, friend or family member.  It can occur through force, drugging, or coercive means.  It can be severely violent with physical resistance or without.

Ultimately it is a violation of personhood and intimacy.  It is a stealing of innocence and security.  Due to this, in all cases, it causes different levels of trauma and crisis within the existence of the person.  In this short blog, we will review some of the issues that result from sexual assault and how to help others through it.

Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Program

Myths Surrounding Rape and Sexual Assault

There are many myths and fallacies surrounding sexual assault regarding its nature and the victims themselves.  Such myths include that rape is merely rough sex,  or that rape is a cry to avenge a man, or that rape is motivated by lust, or that rapists are loners and not everyday people, or that survivors provoke or asked for it, or that only bad women are raped, or that rapes only occur in certain bad areas of town.  In addition, other fallacies include that men who are raped are willing victims due to their strength or position.  Other myths blame only  homosexuals as perpetrators of abuse upon young boys.  Other fallacies include limiting male trauma to female trauma, that once a victim, one will become a future perpetrator, or if someone enjoyed pleasure during the sex of rape, then the person enjoyed it (James, 2017, p. 244-245).  These fallacies can create many misconceptions about the nature of rape and how to help victims of rape.  The reality is rape or sexual assault is a traumatic event that violates and invades a person.  It can lead to a variety of traumas and when myths and fallacies circulate, it can cause intense grief for the victim.

Nature of the Rapist

Most rapes and sexual assaults obviously occur to women or children, but the nature and makeup can be attributed to anyone who seeks to sexually hurt another person.  In case of usually men, the rapist or assailant performs hostile acts and is filled with anger.  Many may feel mistreated, anxious or threatened and have issues with women.  Many see women as inferior or submissive, and feel the need to display power over them.  Many display poor interpersonal skills and also show sadistic patterns of behavior (James, 2017, p.242).  Regardless of gender, those who victimize others in cases of sexual assault fall into four categories.  The first is commit due to raw anger.  The second commit due to power exploitation.  The third commit to power reassurance and finally the fourth commit due to sadistic needs (James, 2017, p. 242).

Rapists, especially molesters, will utilize grooming techniques to find victims and entice them with rewards, only later to entrap them with manipulation to continue in the action by degrading them, blaming them, threatening them, or blackmailing them into secrecy.  Blaming, shaming and disenfranchising the voice of the young person is key to the predation (James, 2017, p. 268).

The rapist or assailant can commit these crimes on a date, abduction, or even within a relationship. It be between a family member, spouse, friend or total stranger. All cases are a grave injustice to the autonomy of the other person and leaves great traumatic scars that require crisis care and long term counseling.  The crimes against children are especially heinous and cry to heaven for justice.  Fortunately, crisis specialists can play the role of angels on earth and try to help these victims.

Helping Sexual Assault Survivors

The initial impact stage of sexual assault and rape leaves the person within the first 2 weeks raw with emotion and maybe even physical pain from the assault.  The person may be haunted by nightmares, flashbacks, dissociation, hypervigilance,  or other reactions to acute stress (James, 2017, p. 248).   These peritraumatic stress syndromes are natural for anyone who was involved in a severe trauma.  They may gradually over time relax or persist into traumatic stress disorder or even PTSD (James, 2017. p. 250).

Among the many possible reactions, some may exhibit multiple emotions, while some may appear unaffected on in a state of shock. Some may wish to not discuss the event.   Others may feel humiliated, demeaned or degraded without value. They may feel stigmatized, shamed or an extreme impaired self image.  Some may blame themselves for the rape or assault.  Others may have difficulty trusting others again.  Some may become depressed or suicidal.  Others may become extremely angry and seek revenge (James, 2017, p. 252).

After 3 months, many will still need to continue medical care for physical issues as well as mental counseling.  Some may have difficulty resuming or returning to work.  Others may have a hard time resuming sexual relations.  Some may also display mood swings and emotional outbursts.  Others may continue to display nightmares, flashbacks and other symptoms of PTSD, as well as depression or suicidal ideation (James, 2017, p. 253).  Children will show regression, odd behaviors, or acting out and if left untreated may deal with unresolved grief and trauma throughout life.

Counselors, as well as social support among friends and family can play key roles in healing.  It is important for those around the victim to be understanding of the trauma and the damage it causes in regards to mood swings, emotional outbursts and the need to express anger.  Friends and family need to be available and counselors need to show empathy and listening.  In doing so, it means recognizing the hurt, the trauma, the self esteem issues, the lack of trust, the fears and triggers, as well as letting her make some decisions on her/him on his/her own to again feel autonomy (James, 2017, p. 254).

While those suffering from more traumatic reactions may require exposure treatments, affective regulation and cognitive therapies through licensed counselors, crisis specialists can help the victim feel safe and secure.  The crisis specialist can reassure and help the person see solutions and answers to the problem and offer insight to their emotions.  In these cases, helping individuals find grounding through breathing and relaxation techniques can be helpful.  It can help an individual regain equilibrium.   In addition, many will need help with grief and understanding loss.   Grief resolution and meaning making will be essential as the person attempts to tie together this horrible event with one’s life story and finding meaning it.  James points out that the two first tasks are clearly stabilization and finding meaning (2017. p. 266).

Many individuals may require support groups that share the similar trauma of sexual assault, as well as ways again to feel safe and regain autonomy.  This can be through the help of others or through other ways of taking control, whether it be through self defense training, or weapons training.  It may involve also finding closure through justice through the judicial system. Some may also look to find even deeper meanings by helping others.  Many may form support groups or push forward into forming organizations or public awareness groups for sexual assault survivors.

Conclusion

Sexual assault is one of the most disgusting and grievous offenses against another human being.  It is broad and wide against numerous target populations according to orientation, gender and age but it usually involves power, anger and sadistic energy.  Individuals suffer intense trauma by this violation and many feel a variety of emotions that can lead to various behavioral issues and future PTSD. Even for those who suffer the general trajectory still suffer emotionally, mentally and physically and must go through a process of stabilization meaning making and finding autonomy, safety and healing again.

Crisis Specialist play a big role in the initial phases of helping sexual assault victims find safety and ability to stabilize their emotions and mind after the assault.  They then guide the victim to finding the necessary long term aids to help the person again find healing and wholeness.

Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Specialist Certification.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in crisis counseling.  The program is great for counselors, social workers, chaplains, as well as nurses, EMT and police and rescue.

Resource

James, R & Gilliland, B. (2017). “Crisis Intervention Strategies”. (8th). Cengage

Additional Resources

National Resources for Sexual Assault Survivors and their Loved Ones. Access here

I am a victim of rape/sexual assault. What do I do? Access here

Legg, T. (2019). “Sexual Assault Resource Guide”.  Healthline. Access here

Pappas, S. (2022). “How to support patients who have experienced sexual assault”. APA.  Access here