sexual trauma therapy In greenville, sc
If you’ve experienced sexual trauma, its impact can linger in ways that aren’t always obvious or easy to explain.
sometimes it shows up as a panicked, catastrophic thought from the smallest of stimuli, like a harmless touch or a whiff of a scent. maybe you feel so scared of closeness that you dissociate immediately, even when you “know” you’re safe with that person. you might avoid physical connection entirely to keep any or all of these effects from happening. you could also feel like all of your worth is based on your ability to be sexual with others, which leaves you feeling empty, hollow, alone, and even ashamed.
it doesn’t matter how long ago it happened or what happened. it happened, and there is a path forward.
this might sound familiar —
Your body responds before you have time to think — tightening, freezing, pulling away, or going numb — even when you want to stay present or feel safe.
Physical closeness can cause you to zone out, shut down, or feel disconnected — even when nothing “bad” is happening.
You feel conflicted about trust or closeness, wanting connection while also feeling guarded, uneasy, or unsure of your boundaries.
You second-guess your reactions or question whether you’re overreacting, even when something clearly doesn’t feel right in your body.
You’ve spent a long time minimizing what happened or telling yourself it “wasn’t that bad,” while still feeling its impact in daily life.
You notice patterns in relationships — pulling away, people-pleasing, or staying quiet about your needs — without fully knowing where they came from.
what support can look like here
Support here moves slowly and gently, at your pace — helping you make sense of what your body and mind are doing, calm your nervous system, and feel more comfortable with closeness over time.
Your reactions make sense in the context of what you’ve been through — and part of this work is helping your body learn that it doesn’t have to stay on high alert. That can mean noticing when your shoulders tense, when your breath gets shallow, or when you start to pull away — then gently working with those moments instead of pushing past them.
Over time, this can make everyday moments feel more manageable — like staying present during closeness, noticing your needs sooner, and feeling less thrown off by things that used to make you spiral.
how we might work together
There isn’t one “right” way to do therapy here — we start with what’s been hardest for you lately and figure out what support makes sense together.
Some days we’re talking things through and making sense of what’s been happening; other days we’re paying attention to how your body reacts or working with memories that still feel close.
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what that can look like in practice —
talking about anything — from everyday stuff that’s been getting under your skin (yes, even “why did that tiny thing bother me so much?” moments) to bigger experiences that still feel heavy or unresolved.
EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and/or brainspotting — techniques that helps us process difficult stuff (past, present, or future worries) without having to explicitly talk through each detail and relive it again. it’s not magic, but it’s close.
nervous system focused work — tl;dr: we identify your body’s responses. we’ll notice your breathing, heart rate, and any areas of tension, and work to bring softness, curiosity, and understanding for your physical being. with practice, your body will feel safer and calmer, especially when stress, anxiety, or overwhelm strike again.
parts-focused work — to help you understand different sides of you — like the part that’s always on high alert, or the part that tells you to dissociate even when things seem fine. understanding and getting curious about these parts can play a big role in reducing shame and distress, and will build your self-awareness to new levels (win-win!).
if any of this feels like it fits …
you’re already in the right place. you don’t have to be certain or have everything figured out before reaching out. Many people start here feeling unsure, tired, or simply wanting things to feel different than they do right now.
If you’re ready, we can start with a quick conversation. You can ask me any questions you have, get a sense of how I work, and decide whether this feels like a good fit — all with zero pressure to commit. let’s start where you are.