Sexual Trauma & Sexual Abuse Therapy in NYC and Across New York & Florida

I work with adults of all genders healing from sexual trauma, whether it happened in childhood or adulthood, and whether it was a single assault or abuse that went on for years. I see clients in person in Midtown Manhattan and online across New York and Florida.

The foundation of this work is a relationship that feels safe and trustworthy. That can’t be rushed, and it doesn’t need to be. We go at a pace that feels manageable to you.

I also have a particular focus on male survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and lead a weekly group for men. Learn more about my work with male survivors.

Signs of sexual trauma in adults

Sexual trauma often affects life in ways that don’t obviously trace back to what happened. Many survivors I work with describe:

  • Talking about what happened in a detached or numb way, as if it happened to someone else

  • Feeling constantly on guard, or having nightmares

  • Strong reactions to certain triggers, especially touch, manipulation, or aggression

  • Difficulty trusting others, sometimes especially people of the same gender as the person who caused harm

  • A strong, protective guard that keeps people at a distance

  • Self-blame, often in the form of questions like “Why wasn’t I strong enough?”

  • Anger toward others or the world in general, alongside shame that’s hard to name

None of this is a sign that something is wrong with you. Much of it is how you learned to survive. For some people, especially when sexual abuse happened in childhood or went on over time, it’s part of a broader pattern of complex trauma, where the effects reach into how you see yourself, how you relate to others, and how safe your body feels.

How sexual trauma can affect intimacy

Sexual trauma often shows up most clearly in close relationships. Many survivors feel deeply uncomfortable with intimacy or connection, even with people they love and trust. There’s often a tremendous amount of understandable self-protectiveness, a way of making sure nothing like that can happen again. In therapy, we approach that protectiveness with respect rather than trying to push past it, and gradually make room for closeness that feels safe.

Why sexual trauma is so often kept secret

Many survivors have never told anyone what happened, or have told only one or two people. Shame plays a big role. So does the fear of being seen as a victim, and sometimes not wanting to fully acknowledge, even to yourself, that it happened to you. Keeping it private can feel protective, but it can also leave you carrying it alone. Therapy can be a place to say it for the first time, and, if and when you’re ready, to think through whether, how, and with whom you want to share it.

Why you may feel detached from what happened

Many people talk about their trauma from a distance, sometimes without feeling much at all. This makes sense. Disconnecting from the full weight of what happened is often what allowed people to keep going: to finish school, build a career, and hold a life together. If you had let yourself feel everything at once, it might not have felt possible to stay stable.

In our work, I’ll often slow us down and ask what you’re noticing as you speak, both emotionally and in your body. The goal isn’t to force feelings, but to gradually reconnect with your experience in a way that feels safe.

Somatic therapy for sexual trauma

Sexual trauma is often stored in the body as much as in memory. Paying attention to what comes up physically, such as tension, numbness, or a sudden urge to pull away, can sometimes connect us to the trauma itself. It also helps us notice when to slow down, so we can make sure we’re moving at a safe pace. Learn more about somatic therapy.

EMDR therapy for sexual trauma

When it fits, I also draw on EMDR to help process traumatic memories, always within the same relational and somatic approach, and only once there’s enough safety and stability to support it.

Healing from sexual abuse trauma: from self-blame to compassion

Shame is often at the center of sexual trauma. Many survivors are haunted by the question of why they didn’t fight back or get away. But freezing is one of the body’s automatic survival responses. It isn’t a choice, and it isn’t a sign of weakness.

Part of our work is connecting with the version of you who went through it. From there, it becomes possible to feel empathy for that person, to grieve what they endured, and to recognize how resilient they were in surviving it.

Anger can be part of this, too, whether it’s directed at people in your life or at the world more broadly, and it’s understandable. As we begin to make room for the sadness and powerlessness underneath it, there’s often less need for rage, and more room for connection and vulnerability.

I welcome survivors of all genders and backgrounds, and my work is LGBTQ+ affirming. If you’re looking for a sexual trauma therapist in NYC or across New York and Florida, I offer a free consultation to see whether working together feels like a good fit.

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Common questions for survivors of sexual trauma and sexual abuse

  • Sexual trauma includes any sexual experience that happened without your full, free consent: assault, abuse in childhood or adulthood, coercion, or experiences you’ve never quite had words for. Many people aren’t sure whether what happened to them “counts.” If it’s still affecting you, it’s worth exploring.

  • That’s an understandable question, especially if the person who harmed you was a man. Safety is the foundation of this work, and we build it together over time. I’m very open to talking about what it’s like to work with me as a man, whether in the consultation or at any point in therapy. For many people, those conversations become a meaningful part of the work itself.

  • No. You decide what you share and when. Much of the healing happens without retelling the trauma in detail, and we’ll go at a pace that feels safe to you.

  • Many people come to therapy years or decades later. Sexual trauma can continue to shape relationships, intimacy, and how you see yourself long after it happened, and it’s never too late to work through it.

  • Yes. I offer therapy and sexual assault counseling for people who experienced assault or abuse in adulthood, as well as survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

  • Yes. I offer online therapy across New York and Florida, as well as in-person sessions in Midtown Manhattan.