RESOURCES
1. What to do if someone has sexually harmed you.
The Rape and Incest Sexual Assault National Network offers a 24-hour phone and chat line.
https://www.rainn.org/resources
It can also help you find a rape crisis center close to you that can offer forensic exams, trained counselors, and support groups.
https://nationalsurvivornetwork.org/document/rainn-find-your-local-rape-crisis-center/
Many college campuses have hotlines. Students at Tulane University, for example, run a hotline through an organization called SAPHE
https://campushealth.tulane.edu/departments/student-organizations/saphe
The Take Back the Night Foundation also runs a national hotline for legal assistance: 567-742-8837
https://takebackthenight.org/legal-assistance/
2. How to receive a disclosure of sexual assault without harming the survivor.
Faculty: Re-evaluate the ethics of mandatory reporting and consider being a conscientious objector.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8719867/
3. How to find a therapist who can help you heal after an assault.
It is important to find a therapist with expertise in dealing with sexual assault trauma. Many therapists work via telehealth and many states allow therapists to work with clients in other states (my therapist moved from New Orleans to Texas). Health match (https://mentalhealthmatch.com/) is basically psychotherapy Tinder. The therapists who use the service create their own profile including what issues they work with, what populations they are familiar with and, what locations they serve as well as insurance taken. On the patient side, they fill out an anonymous profile, specifically asking for what they want. So you can choose a a therapist skilled in world working with sexual trauma, PTSD, men’s issues, or childhood sexual abuse. You may wish to ask if they are trained in the latest protocols, for example, EMDR.
4. Finding a lawyer
National Crime Victims Bar Association
The National Crime Victim Bar Association maintains a nationwide network of attorneys who are dedicated to helping victims of crime rebuild their lives through the Civil Justice system. If you are the victim of a crime and are interested in receiving a referral for a civil attorney, please complete the form below.
Survivor Space: How Do I Find The Right Lawyer?
Jeff suggests that victims of childhood sexual abuse can find qualified and experienced lawyers by contacting the National Crime Victim Bar Association at victimbar.org. The association provides referrals to at least three attorneys based on the type and location of the case. He emphasizes the importance of talking to all the attorneys to find someone willing to take the case and who the victim is comfortable working with, as the relationship with the attorney is personal and intimate.
Survivor Space: Choosing a Qualified Attorney for Civil Litigation:
Choosing to pursue civil litigation is an important and personal decision, as is choosing a law firm and an attorney to represent you. If, when, and how to pursue civil litigation related to past sexual abuse that you suffered requires an attorney with specific knowledge and experience. You deserve to be represented by someone who understands what you’ve been through and knows how to successfully navigate the civil legal process.
