Sexual Trauma Therapy

At Tribeca Maternity, We Don’t Ignore Sexual Trauma In Therapy

Sexual trauma goes under-acknowledged in our society. At Tribeca Maternity, we won’t let that happen. Sexual trauma can resurface in new ways when you’re dealing with highly medicalized experiences like conception, infertility, pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood. Often this is the first time a woman talks about previous sexual trauma. Talking about this trauma can seem scary and impossible, but it can also be deeply powerful. We honor that this process takes time and trust, but may also need immediate attention.

Sexual Harassment, Assault, and Abuse Come in Many Forms

Sexual trauma comes in many forms. At Tribeca Maternity, we don’t believe an experience has to meet a legal definition for harassment, abuse, or assault for it to be sexual trauma. We make space for complicated experiences that are sometimes difficult to define. What matters is that you were traumatized. If you feel it was a trauma, it was a trauma, and we treat it that way.

We Help You Navigate Consent With Doctors and Other Providers 

Sometimes in medical situations with invasive procedures, you can feel forced or violated physically. This itself can be traumatic, and it may also trigger past trauma. At Tribeca Maternity, we help you navigate consent during every part of your medical treatment. We help you approach these questions powerfully so you can gain control in a process that can feel out of control: 

• Do you consent to this exam?
• Who do you want in the room?
• How do you want to be touched?
• Is this appropriate? 

We Believe In Consent Every Time With Partners

Sex will likely look, feel, and be different during conception, pregnancy, infertility, and postpartum, and this will include whether and when you want it. We also recognize that pregnancy can be a high-risk period of time for women when it comes to intimate partner violence and sexual assault. In therapy, we talk about consent every time—from a first-time encounter to married partnerships—as well as the pain, flashbacks, or trauma that may be coming up. We help you say yes or no, and unpack both. 

Sexual Trauma May Come Up In Your Relationship: We Help Couples To Talk About It

Sexual trauma may be coming into your relationship in a new way during conception, infertility, pregnancy, or new parenthood. As a couple, you may not have talked together about your or a partner’s sexual trauma, even though you may have been having sex for years. In our couples therapy sessions, we provide an opportunity for couples to talk about your experiences and consent together.