Sexual assault is a major trauma that significantly and durably affects grief. Recovery is possible with appropriate support.
How Sexual Assault Affects Grief
- PTSD is extremely common after sexual assault, with direct effects on grief
- Shame and self-blame — which are not deserved — are powerful grief drivers
- Trust and intimacy disruption affects relationships central to grief recovery
- The legal process and disclosure decisions create additional psychological burden
Trauma-Informed Grief Treatment After Assault
Evidence-based therapies for sexual assault-related grief include:
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) — specifically developed for assault survivors
- Prolonged Exposure therapy
- EMDR
Immediate Support Resources
- RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- Local rape crisis centers provide trauma-informed grief support