Sexual Abuse

The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace. – Psalm 29:11

If you have been the victim of sexual abuse, you probably feel helpless, confused, ashamed, sad, and even in the grip of overwhelming fear. But there is hope in Christ. Through the means of Christian counseling, you can find a place of safety. Each person’s path to healing is different, so your counselor will help you move at your own pace, and will make use of a variety of counseling tools that are appropriate for your particular situation and needs.

Should you get counseling?

Many who have been traumatized by sexual abuse need help to grapple with the serious, life-changing effects.Sexual abuse can inflict powerful emotional damage which can lead to a host of other problems that can be tough to conquer without professional help. You may need Christian counseling if you or your child has been the victim of sexual abuse or assault.

Christian trauma counseling might help if you have any of the following:

• Anxiety and Depression
• Eating disorders
• Self-destructive behavior
• Relationship problems
• Substance abuse
• Sexual addiction
• Dissociative Identity Disorder
• PTSD

The horrors of sexual abuse can do tremendous damage to a person’s faith, but in the darkest times, Christ is there to give us the strength to carry on.He is the Great Physician, the one who can heal our hearts, and through Him, you can find peace and healing for which you may have lost all hope.

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. – Psalm 107:13

If you have been the victim of sexual abuse, then you most likely feel isolated and alone, but don’t believe it. You are not alone.In fact, according to RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network): Someone is sexually assaulted in the U.S. every 107 seconds, and 68% are never reported!

If you or a loved one has been sexually abused, then getting help may be one of the best decisions you could possibly make. Trying to carry the weight of the effects of sexual abuse by yourself can be overwhelming.The mere act of unburdening yourself in a safe place can be an enormous relief. A compassionate Christian counselor can help create that safe place so that you can begin the road to healing the deep wounds and scars left by sexual abuse.

Was I sexually abused?

You may be confused about whether or not you were sexually abused. There is nothing abnormal about that, especially when the possible abuse took place when you were a child, or when you were involved in a romantic relationship.If you are asking that question, then it is a strong possibility that you were a victim of sexual abuse.Like many, however, you may have a difficult time accepting it. A trained Christian counselor can help you through.

Was my child sexually abused?

If you believe, or even suspect, that your child or teen has been abused sexually, there is no time to waste – you need to get help right away. Having your child examined by a physician is the first step.After that, you will need to seek out good legal help. Sexual abuse in the child and teen years can have long-lasting adverse effects on a person, so solid Christian counseling is highly recommended. Bellevue Christian Counseling can help your child heal both emotionally and spiritually, providing support for the entire family throughout the process.

Sexual abuse includes (but is not limited to):

• Non-consensual, forced physical sexual contact.
• Psychological forms of sexual abuse such as sexual harassment and indecent exposure.
• Exposing children and teens to sexual acts or pornography.
• Invasion of the victim’s privacy for the purpose of sexual gratification.
• Violent acts which harm sexual parts of the body.
• Use of derogatory statements that are sexual in nature.

It is a sad fact that sexually abused children are frequently too afraid or confused to seek help. In fact, a lot of them don’t even realize that they are being abused. Knowing the signs of sexual abuse will give you a more reasonable chance of catching the abuse early on, even before your child is able to talk about the abuse themselves.

Signs of sexual abuse in children include (but are not limited to):

• Nightmares or sleep disturbances.
• A sudden change in eating habits.
• Sudden mood and behavior changes such as sadness, fear, or withdrawal.
• Hints at discussions regarding things which are sexual in nature.
• Fear of particular people or places.
• Playing out sexual scenarios with toys or in drawings.
• Showing adult-like sexual behavior or knowledge.
• The child is given toys or gifts from an adult frequently, without any particular.

Teens can often be wary of speaking out about sexual abuse, particularly if the abuse has been going on since they were children. As in the case of children, it is important for you to know and recognize the warning signs of sexual abuse in teens.

Signs of sexual abuse in teens include (but are not limited to):

• Depression and anxiety.
• Self-harm or talk of suicide.
• Sexual promiscuity.
• Sudden changes in eating habits.
• Running away from home.
• Fear of intimacy.
• Drug and alcohol abuse.
• Failure to thrive academically and socially.

The symptoms listed above relate to a wide variety of circumstances involving things such as abuse and trauma and do not always indicate sexual abuse. However, if your child shows any of these signs, there may well be a problem, and you should seek help.

If your child or teen has been sexually abused, they are at high risk for developing any of a number of different mental health problems both now and in the future.Sexual abuse dramatically affects how children and teens view and interact with the world and can cause issues such as eating disorders, substance abuse, depression, etc.

Learning to deal with the pain they feel now will help them to live fully-functional, healthy, and productive lives. Bellevue Christian Counseling offers counseling to children and teens that covers a range of childhood and adolescent issues, including that of sexual abuse.

Christian counseling for sexual abuse can help your child:

• Communicate their experiences with sexual abuse.
• Process their emotions and understand their responses to the abuse.
• Understand the difference between unhealthy and healthy relationship behaviors.

Build proper self-esteem, find security, and acquire tools for coping with the abuse in a healthy way.

At Bellevue Christian Counseling, our aim is for you to find peace and healing. To this end, your counselor will help you learn to express your emotions, understand the abuse, learn to process those emotions, and work to overcome destructive patterns of thought, belief, and behavior that you may have been using to deal with the pain. Whatever your situation, if you are a victim of sexual abuse, Christian counseling can help you heal.

Christian counseling can help you:

• Understand the effects of childhood sexual abuse and learn proper response
• Better understand your own behaviors or emotions related to the abuse.
• Process your memories so they no longer control your behavior and emotions.
• Understand that you are not to blame for the assault.
• Work through issues of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• Work through issues related to dissociation and dissociative disorders.
• Regain a sense of normalcy and peace in your life.
• Overcome issues of codependency and other negative relationship patterns.

Recovery from sexual abuse and trauma is possible. Contact us today to start your journey of healing.

To learn more about Christian counseling for sexual abuse and trauma recovery or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at 425-939-6856 or contact us online.