Goals of Sexual Trauma Therapy: When Are You "Done?"

Because nothing you can do in therapy can erase the trauma, it can be hard to know when you have helped your client to the point where they are ready to move forward on their own. This video will share with you several major milestones that tell you that your sexual trauma client is moving to a place of healing.

To Tell The Story Or Not To Tell The Story?

When I first started working with clients who had been through sexual abuse and assault, I could see the pain in their eyes when they recounted what they had been through. 

Click here to watch the video in YouTube.

In therapy for sexual assault, the beginning counselor can wonder whether or not to encourage the client to tell their story, causing the client distress. But is it important enough that the therapist should encourage the client to talk about it even when they don't want to? What should the therapist be careful about when they ask the client about the situations they've overcome in their past? This short video helps the therapist know what precautions to take when recalling an assault with a client and ultimately how important it is to the client's recovery. 

*Note: The advice in this video is intended only for licensed therapists trained in working with clients who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. Nothing in this video should be considered a substitute for professional counseling, training, or supervision.*

The Power of Language in Sexual Trauma Therapy: Words That Oppress, Words That Heal [Video Post]

The childhood rhyme was wrong. Words can often hurt you.

Click to watch in YouTube.

How much do your words matter in sexual trauma therapy? If you are a counselor, your word choice can radically change the emotions of your client - for better or for worse. Old-fashioned words like "rape" can throw back a client to feeling like it matters what she's wearing and where she was when an assault happened. Naming a client as a survivor, on the other hand, can uplift and empower a client who is feeling powerless. 

Next week, come back for the third installment of our special therapist competency series: To Tell The Story or Not To Tell The Story? The Question of Uncovering The Abuse Story in Sexual Trauma Therapy.

What do you think of the special focus series on sexual trauma? Are there any specialties you'd like to see covered in the future? Let me know!

Support Sexual Assault Survivors!

Survivor Advocacy Coffee Mugs by SurvivorIsAVerb

Profit from each purchase goes to support counseling, research and advocacy. Show your clients you believe in their stories while while contributing to survivor healing!  

Your Sexual Trauma Client: The Reality Of Their Experience.

Click to watch in YouTube

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Did you know that every 2 minutes, someone is sexually assaulted? That one in 6 women have experienced an attempted or completed rape? That means a great majority of the clients we see in our offices will be survivors of sexual assault or abuse. It is our duty to educate ourselves as to the reality of their experiences. This month, we will be focusing on increasing our therapist competency in the area of sexual trauma recovery. 

This video starts out the month by explaining the reality of what the sexual assault and abuse survivor experiences when they are considering reporting sexual misconduct to law enforcement, seeking medical help, or pursuing legal action against a perpetrator.

You think you know what the reality is? You have no idea. Watch the video to find out. 

Next week, we will discuss Words That Oppress, Words That Heal: The Power of Language in Sexual Trauma Therapy.


Support Sexual Assault Survivors!

Survivor Advocacy by SurvivorIsAVerb

Profit from each purchase goes to support counseling, research and advocacy. Show your clients you believe in their stories while while contributing to survivor healing!  

[Video Post] How To Get More Clients Now (Yes, Even If You're an Intern.)

The #1 question I heard during the Mind Your Own Business Virtual Conference this summer was, "How do I get more clients?" followed closely by, "How do I get more clients as an intern?"

This video teaches you how to do all that and more. Enjoy!

This post is adapted from a written blog post from 3/24/11. If you're interested, you can read it here. 

Don't forget to leave your comments below!

[Video Post] Ways For Counselors To Reduce No-Shows (Even With Clients Who Come See You For Free)

My FIRST-EVER Video Blog!

Want to see what facing a fear looks like? This is it. Check out this video response to a question submitted by a Beginning Counselor, and comment below to let me know what you think. And send in your own questions! You never know what might make my next video blog response!

Guest Video Post: Creating a (Counseling) Business Facebook Page!

You guys just have no idea how lucky you are today.

Jennifer Del Castillo, a new friend I met through the MYOB conference, recently went above and beyond to help another member correct a problem she was having categorizing her Facebook business page.

The way she followed up with it demonstrated 2 things:

1) She cared about helping those who were new or unfamiliar with a process find clarity.

2) She really knew her stuff.


I wasn't born yesterday. I knew Jennifer had some skills I wanted to make sure you guys got a taste of. She agreed to do a guest post for you on how to create a Facebook page for your counseling business.

She's incredibly modest, so she probably won't take credit for it, but she did an absolutely amazing job.

Check out her guest video blog below:




Please thank her for her selfless and thorough instructional video in the comments below.

Jennifer Del Castillo is a licensed professional counselor and yoga teacher in the metro Atlanta area. You can find her website: Your Mindful Path Counseling & Yoga. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube and Google+.

After you finish checking her out, would you hop by my new Facebook page and give me a "like?" I just made it after watching this video (she inspired me that much!) and right now, I only have one "like." It's really lonely right now and could use some friends! 

Thanks again, Jennifer! You're amazing!