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If you have experienced sexual violation or trauma, healing is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone. Our compassionate sexual assault therapists in NYC specialize in individual therapy to help you navigate the path to recovery, providing a safe and supportive environment. Whether you're seeking to process your experiences or rebuild your sense of self, we’re here to guide you through the most effective treatment possible. 

Find hope and healing with specialized sexual trauma therapy in NYC

Meet our top-rated sexual trauma therapists in NYC

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Our priority is to ensure that you receive the best care possible. If you feel our practice is not the right fit, we're happy to provide recommendations for trusted resources including support groups, group therapy, sex therapy, other types of talk therapy, family therapy, crisis intervention, or other psychological treatments to provide ongoing support.


When you are in active crisis, struggling with significant substance abuse, or managing severe eating disorders.

When another practice might be a better fit for your needs

We understand that experiencing sexual assault or sexual abuse can feel isolating and overwhelming, and we are committed to creating a space where you feel supported every step of the way.

Our approach is rooted in trauma-informed care and combines evidence-based practices such as EMDR, psychodynamic therapy, CBT, mindfulness, and somatic techniques. This allows us to address both the emotional and physical impacts of trauma, helping you process your experiences, build resilience, and reconnect with a sense of empowerment.

Healing from a sexually traumatic experience is a deeply personal journey, and we tailor our work to you, respecting your pace and boundaries. Whether you’re seeking to process difficult emotions, address relational challenges, or rebuild trust, our therapists are here to guide you with compassion, skill, and care. At Madison Square Psychotherapy, you don’t have to face this alone—healing is possible, and we’re here to help you navigate the path forward.

At Madison Square Psychotherapy, our mission is to provide personalized, high-quality therapy that meets you where you are and empowers you to move toward healing.

About Madison Square Psychotherapy

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  • Expertise in evidence-based practices, including EMDR, CBT, somatic therapies, and psychodynamic approaches, to support comprehensive healing.

  • A holistic approach that acknowledges the connection between emotional, physical, and relational well-being.

  • Commitment to pacing therapy in a way that is always lead first by your readiness and boundaries.

  • Special attention to the impacts of trauma on intimacy and relationships, offering tools to rebuild trust and connection.

  • Trauma-informed care with a focus on creating a safe, nonjudgmental, and empowering therapeutic space for you.

  • Flexible in-person, virtual or hybrid sessions offered for whatever feels most the comfortable for you. 

What makes us a unique choice for sexual trauma therapy in NYC?

If it feels like a good match, you and your therapist can schedule your first session, typically within a few days. From there, you’ll work together to better understand what you’re experiencing, identify your goals, and determine what you want to change.

Your therapist will help you explore underlying patterns and experiences at a pace that feels manageable, while supporting you in creating meaningful, sustainable change.

Start the Process

During your consultation, you’ll have the chance to connect with your therapist, share a little about what brings you to therapy, and ask any questions you may have.

There’s no pressure to have everything figured out. This is an opportunity to see if the therapist feels like a good fit, learn more about their approach, and get a sense of what working together could look like.

Connect With Your Therapist

Start by browsing our sex trauma therapist profiles or take our quick therapist matching questionnaire, and we’ll help identify a therapist who fits your needs and preferences.

Once you’ve found your therapist—or been matched—you can schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation directly through our website. Pick a time that works for you and secure it instantly, without the back-and-forth.

Find Your Therapist

Taking the first step toward healing can feel daunting, but we’ve tried to make it as simple and seamless as possible. Whether you've been referred from a physician or sexual assault center, or have just found yourself googling "sexual trauma therapists near me," you've come to the right place. Here’s how to get started:


How to start sex trauma therapy in NYC

Our focus extends beyond simply managing PTSD symptoms or difficult emotions. Therapy can help you develop coping skills, understand the ways trauma has affected you, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with a sense of self that isn’t defined by what happened to you.

With both in-person therapy in NYC and virtual sessions available, you can choose the setting that feels most comfortable and sustainable. Your therapist will meet you at your pace while helping you move toward healing, growth, and a greater sense of agency.

Support that Centers Your Healing

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Our therapists specialize in working with survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse using a trauma-informed approach tailored to your individual needs. Treatment may incorporate evidence-based approaches including EMDR, CBT, trauma narration, cognitive processing skills therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and mindfulness.

We understand that healing looks different for every survivor. From the beginning, we’ll work with you to create a treatment plan that feels safe, supportive, and responsive to both the emotional and physical impacts of trauma.

Specialized Sexual Trauma Therapy

Common reasons why people start therapy for sexual trauma










Memories of sexual assault or abuse can surface unexpectedly through flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, or strong reactions to reminders of the trauma. Trauma therapy can help you process these experiences so memories become less disruptive and overwhelming over time.

Flashbacks and Intrusive Memories

Sexual trauma can affect how you feel about yourself and the world around you. Depression, anger, guilt, shame, or emotional numbness are all common responses. Therapy provides space to process these emotions and challenge beliefs about yourself or what happened that may be keeping you stuck.

Depression, Guilt, and Shame

After sexual trauma, you may feel constantly on edge, anxious, or unable to fully relax. Reminders of what happened can trigger intense emotional or physical reactions, even when you know you’re currently safe. Therapy can help you understand these responses and develop tools for feeling more grounded and secure.

Anxiety and Hypervigilance

When sexual abuse happens during childhood, its effects can continue into adulthood, particularly around trust, safety, relationships, and sense of self. Therapy can help you understand how earlier experiences may still be affecting you today and begin working through those patterns without defining yourself by what happened.

Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Sexual trauma can make trust, intimacy, and connection feel complicated or even frightening. You may find yourself avoiding closeness, struggling with boundaries, or feeling disconnected from people you care about. Therapy can help you explore these patterns and begin rebuilding relationships in ways that feel safe.

Trust, Intimacy, and Relationships

Trauma doesn’t only affect the mind. Muscle tension, headaches, digestive issues, disrupted sleep, chronic fatigue, changes in appetite, and difficulty feeling at ease in your body can all occur after sexual trauma. Therapy can help you reconnect with your body and develop a greater sense of safety and calm.

Physical and Somatic Symptoms

When You Are in Active Crisis

If you were just assaulted or sexually abused, it's important you consider first reaching out to a sexual assault center that specializes in working with rape victims as they may be able to help you decide your immediate first steps and help you collect physical evidence if necessary. Also, if you are currently experiencing a psychiatric crisis or are in immediate danger, such as thoughts of self-harm or harm to others, it's important to seek urgent crisis intervention. We recommend reaching out to a crisis hotline (like 988) or visiting your local emergency room. Once you are in a more stable place, we'd be happy to help you begin the process with therapy.

When You Are Struggling with Significant Substance Abuse

If you are actively struggling with significant substance abuse, it may be best to first seek other forms of specialized care focused on addiction recovery. We recommend looking into rehabilitation programs or seeking a therapist who specializes in addiction. Once you are further along in your recovery, we can work together to address the effects of sexual assault.

When You Are Managing Severe Eating Disorders

If you are in the midst of struggling with severe eating disorders, it's important to receive treatment, whether individual or group therapy, from a provider who specializes in eating disorders and disordered eating patterns. Specialized care will help address the physical and emotional components of these challenges. After gaining stabilization in your therapy sessions, we would be happy to support you in treating PTSD symptoms you may have.

Our priority is to ensure that you receive the best care possible. If you feel our practice is not the right fit, we're happy to provide recommendations for trusted resources including support groups, group therapy, sex therapy, other types of talk therapy, family therapy, crisis intervention, or other psychological treatments to provide ongoing support.

The best type of individual therapy is one that is personalized to meet the individual's needs, recognizing the unique impact of traumatic experiences on both mind and body. Systematic reviews in clinical neuroscience have shown support for modalities including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps individuals reframe negative thoughts and cope with upsetting memories, and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which uses eye movements or other bilateral stimulation to process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge. Somatic therapies can also be helpful, as they focus on RECONNECTING THE BODY AND MIND, addressing physical symptoms of trauma.

At our practice, we use a combination of these EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES, tailoring our methods to your specific needs. Our clinicians are skilled in integrating CBT, EMDR, and mindfulness techniques to help you process your experiences, manage distress, and rebuild a sense of safety and empowerment. Our approach is always trauma-informed, ensuring that we work at a pace that feels comfortable and healing for you.

Sexual assault and sexual abuse can leave deep emotional and psychological scars, but individual therapy can be a powerful way to heal. When we work together, we'll start by creating a safe and supportive space where you can feel understood and free from judgment. This is your time to talk through your experiences and your own trauma narrative, and most importantly, to feel seen and heard.

Throughout our work together, we'll help you understand how trauma has affected your thoughts, emotions, and even your relationships—especially with loved ones or family members. For some survivors, including male survivors, those abused by a family member, and those who had non-offending caregivers, shame may make it even more difficult to talk about, but healing is definitely possible. It's normal to feel disconnected or like you can't trust yourself, but therapy will help you rebuild that trust, not just with others, but with your own feelings and body. You'll start to feel more grounded and more in control of your life.

We'll use a mix of tools that are designed to help you feel better. Techniques like mindfulness and CBT can help you manage overwhelming emotions, while EMDR helps you gently process painful memories. Somatic therapy reconnects you with your body, easing the physical tension that often gets trapped. And psychodynamic therapy can help you discover the deeper patterns that may be keeping you stuck, giving you a clearer sense of how to move forward.

Healing takes time, but with the right support, you can start to feel more like yourself again—stronger, calmer, and more in control. You're not alone in this.

FAQs about sex trauma therapy

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Beginning sexual trauma therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. Therapy is a collaborative process shaped around your needs, comfort level, and goals. You’ll set the pace as you work with your therapist to process difficult experiences, develop coping skills, strengthen boundaries and trust, and reconnect with your sense of safety and self.

If you’re in need of more immediate support, you can call or text 988, or access the official NYC 988 suicide & crisis line for 24/7 confidential help. You can also find mental health resources and referrals in New York City through NYC’s Department of Health & Mental Hygiene.

Start working with a sexual trauma therapist in NYC today

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