Working With Survivors of Sexual Assault
What can professionals do to help?
Unfortunately, sexual assault is prevalent in our society today. However, survivors of sexual assault do not have to suffer alone or in silence. There are things that all professionals who assist or interact with survivors of sexual assault can do to help.
Provider self-awareness and sensitivity
Professionals can be sensitive to the impact of sex-based stereotypes on sexual assault survivors and to myths related to sexual assault. They can strive to be self-aware of any biases related to these and mindful not to inadvertently apply them to the survivors they are assisting. It is crucial that providers respond to disclosures of sexual assault by all individuals in a supportive manner, which includes:
Listening to the survivor.
Validating their experience and emotional response.
Providing appropriate resources and referrals.
Reinforcing for the survivor that sexual assault was not their fault.
Reactions such as blaming or questioning the survivor about their actions, treating the survivor differently (for example, as if they are damaged in some way), attempting to control the survivor's actions (for example, forcing them to report the assault) or focusing on one's own feelings or experiences rather than the survivor's feelings and needs should be carefully avoided, as such negative responses can push a survivor away from needed care and further impede recovery (32).
Assessment considerations
Health care providers are encouraged to ask all of their patients, in a sensitive manner, if they have experienced a trauma such as sexual assault. For example, providers might ask, "I ask all my patients, have you ever experienced sexual contact against your will or when you were unable to say no (for example, after being forced or threatened or to avoid other consequences)?" If a patient responds, "yes," a provider is encouraged to offer empathy and ask about how the patient's experience might impact their treatment needs and preferences for care.
Trauma-informed care
Since patient trauma histories are often unknown, best practices for providers are to apply principles of trauma-informed care with all patients. Such an approach includes:
Decreasing power differentials between provider and patient.
Providing choices to the survivor whenever possible - for example, what name to be called, where to sit in the room, when to meet, and what interventions to use.
Being open in providing information to the patient about the exam, recommendations and resources; explaining any procedures or exams before initiating them.
Phrasing requests in a way that is asking rather than ordering.
Prioritizing the survivor's privacy and confidentiality.
Incorporating the survivors' strengths into care - for example, asking a survivor what helps them cope in the moment if they are distressed, recognizing positive gains in health-related behaviors and recognizing the patient's resilience to survive a trauma such as sexual assault.
Treatment considerations
Evidence-based treatments for PTSD can give sexual assault survivors diagnosed with PTSD the best chance of recovery. Trained professionals can provide these treatments effectively and in a sensitive manner to all survivors. There are evidence-based treatments for specific conditions that may be associated with sexual assault. For example, first-line psychotherapies for PTSD have been proven to reduce PTSD symptoms in individuals who experienced sexual assault.