“I know someone who survived a sexual assault. How can I help?” What percentage of people in the US are Sexually Abused? According to the CDC, 10.6% of adult women and 2.1% of adult men have reported experiencing a forced sexual encounter at some point in their lives. This means that just as many of [...]

The news of the devestating mine accident in Virginia recently brings into sharp focus how easy it is to have one’s world turned upside down in a second. We are bombarded by tragic news stories of earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, violent crime, abuse, murder and much more. Most people consider those examples of “trauma” and understand [...]

This past week the breaking news headline was:Jaycee Dugard Discovered After 18 Years with convicted rapist Phillip Garrido. This was a shock not only to anyone who heard the story, but also to her family.In the Jaycee Dugard case, as well as with Elizabeth Smart and Shawn Hornbeck cases, there are three common questions that [...]

Shame, despair, and powerless are a few of the emotions that victims of rape and sexual assault may experience. These same emotions often interfere with their ability to decide to prosecute their perpetrator. There are also many thoughts such as, “We were drinking. He couldn’t help it. Maybe my outfit led him on.” The list [...]

Cartoons represent dog bites as silly, seemingly harmless events. The truth is far more serious. A large percentage of dog attacks leave their victims with debilitating scars, both physical and psychological. The sound of dogs barking or even venturing outdoors can become a fear provoking situation. Because dogs target the face, neck and head of [...]

“I have heard of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), but never understood what it is. Could you provide some information about this disorder?” PTSD is an anxiety disorder that is related to surviving a traumatic event, in which you feel your life or someone else’s life is threatened. These events can be catastrophic, such as natural [...]