Dr. Robert Turner Discusses Ways to Heal After Sexual Assault

Many of Dr. Robert Turner’s counseling patients find that the road to recovery following sexual assault or violence is long. It may take months or years before the survivor feels safe, while others may never feel safe again. But there are ways to heal and cope after these traumatic events, and they can help you regain your footing as you move forward.

• Accept your emotions and what happened - Some survivors may feel trapped in a spiral of denial, trying to convince themselves that it never happened. Some may even refuse to acknowledge it at all, even to themselves. Counselors like Dr. Robert Turner believe that acceptance is crucial to finally moving forward. It allows the survivor to accept the reality of what occurred and their feelings about it.

• Reconnect and take ownership of your body - Caring for the body following the assault can help you heal physically and mentally. Some sexual assault survivors disconnect with their body following the trauma, no longer recognizing it as their own or feeling numb and afraid. But by taking up exercise, meditation, yoga, or other similar activities and using it as a healing step, survivors can return to being aware of their bodies, mindful of their breathing, and controlling their movements.

• Avoid substances - Dr. Robert Turner explains that substances like alcohol or drugs have become so popular because they allow people to disconnect from reality. It numbs emotions and sensations and transports them elsewhere. But if a survivor uses it as a coping method, it only brings them further away from recovery. Instead, avoid these mind- and mood-altering substances, and focus on enhancing your ability to return to daily function and activities. Embrace your body’s strength without the need to self-medicate.

The most important advice that Dr. Robert Turner can impart is to lean on a support system. It could be family, friends, a hobby, or a counseling group. The support system grounds the survivor and reminds them that they are here, have survived, and will continue to do so into the future.