--- title: Are there certified therapists who specialize in helping survivors of grooming and sexual abuse/violence? I've been trying to find someone who can help me make sense of my trauma from experiences that happened when I was a preteen/teen. I also need help understanding my own role in what happened. The whole thing feels painful and complex, and I'm honestly scared of what I might learn beyond what I already know. ~ Our Wave Community description:

Thank you for reaching out to us and I am so sorry you are experiencing so much complexity and pain. You do not... url: https://community.ourwave.org/en/answer/are-there-certified-therapists-who-specialize-in-helping-survivors-of-grooming-and-sexual-abuse-violence-ive-been-trying-to-find-someone-who-can-help-me-make-sense-of-my-trauma-from-experiences-that-h.md --- {{customAnalyticsScripts}} [\[Image: Our Wave Logo\]\[Image: Our Wave Logo\]](/en/) [ Community ](/en/)[ Questions & Answers ](/en/learn)[ Find Support ](/en/resources) Share story Post a message 0 Users 0 Views 0 Reactions 0 Stories read ##### Need to take a break? 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Send it to us 🇺🇸 # Are there certified therapists who specialize in helping survivors of grooming and sexual abuse/violence? I've been trying to find someone who can help me make sense of my trauma from experiences that happened when I was a preteen/teen. I also need help understanding my own role in what happened. The whole thing feels painful and complex, and I'm honestly scared of what I might learn beyond what I already know. \[Image: Dr. Laura\] Answer by **Dr. Laura** PhD Mental Health Nurse & Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Topics:[Seeking help after trauma](/en/learn?tags=seeking-help-after-trauma-1) Thank you for reaching out to us and I am so sorry you are experiencing so much complexity and pain. You do not deserve to feel this way. Yes, there are absolutely therapists who specialize in working with survivors of sexual violence and grooming. Many therapists have specialized training in [trauma-informed care and specific certifications](https://community.ourwave.org/_external/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fhealth%2Fbest-types-of-therapy-for-trauma%23prolonged-exposure&resourceId=non_specific&localeId=en&countryId=us&src=answer&questionId=25f79902-7b01-4c4b-9316-7a03cd0b36d9&sig=9378a92d5250f47b42645dfa4f31cf48713c58ee1741a58778cce9673c2e2cf1) that have been shown to be helpful with survivors of trauma and abuse (e.g. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), or Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)). Your concern about understanding your "role" in what happened is something many survivors grapple with. It's important to know that children and teens cannot consent to sexual activity with adults, and grooming specifically involves manipulation tactics that deliberately create confusion about boundaries and responsibility. The feelings of complicity or shame that often arise are normal responses to trauma, not reflections of actual responsibility. The fear you're expressing about what you might learn in therapy is completely understandable. Facing trauma can feel overwhelming, but trauma-informed therapists are trained to move at your pace and provide support throughout the process. They won't force you to discuss anything before you're ready. It takes tremendous courage to seek help when dealing with painful and complex experiences from your past. The confusion and fear that accompany such experiences are natural reactions, and a compassionate therapist will create a safe, supportive environment where you can explore these feelings without judgment. Remember that healing from trauma happens at your own pace, and a good therapist will respect your boundaries while gently guiding you through the process. To find a specialized therapist, you have several resources available. The American Psychological Association (APA) offers a [Psychologist Locator](https://community.ourwave.org/_external/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Flocator.apa.org%2F&resourceId=non_specific&localeId=en&countryId=us&src=answer&questionId=25f79902-7b01-4c4b-9316-7a03cd0b36d9&sig=0a9579ca33dd780cc52fd4bdac40d7664c183e93af99ccfae570d629c0d5b869) where you can search for professionals in your area. Psychology Today's [therapist finder](https://community.ourwave.org/_external/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.psychologytoday.com%2Fus%2Ftherapists&resourceId=non_specific&localeId=en&countryId=us&src=answer&questionId=25f79902-7b01-4c4b-9316-7a03cd0b36d9&sig=ccd16f54064ff007f9752b3a3339a52cdab6717b07c7d6488fc2f2d677572f2a) also allows you to filter for trauma specialists. The RAINN [National Sexual Assault Hotline](https://community.ourwave.org/_external/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Frainn.org%2Fcontent%2Fonline-hotline&resourceId=non_specific&localeId=en&countryId=us&src=answer&questionId=25f79902-7b01-4c4b-9316-7a03cd0b36d9&sig=78382552c2bf5dfd613264f984ce4e42fc39c77c0221ac91c54d319508e4e1cf) (1-800-656-HOPE) can connect you to local resources, and many sexual assault support centers offer therapy services or can provide referrals to qualified professionals. When contacting potential therapists, it's completely appropriate to ask about their experience with cases similar to yours and how they approach therapy for trauma survivors. This conversation can help you determine if they're the right fit for your needs. Remember that finding the right therapist might take time, and it's okay to meet with several before deciding who feels like the best fit for you. Be gentle with yourself through this process—seeking help is already a significant step toward healing, and you deserve support that honors your experiences and helps you find a path toward understanding and peace. Thank you for reaching out to us with this. You are not alone. Random Question 0 Upvote(s) Upvote(s) [ 0 Comment(s) Comment(s) ](/en/answer/are-there-certified-therapists-who-specialize-in-helping-survivors-of-grooming-and-sexual-abuse-violence-ive-been-trying-to-find-someone-who-can-help-me-make-sense-of-my-trauma-from-experiences-that-h#comments) ### Discard message? You have a comment in progress, are you sure you want to discard it? Cancel Discard ##### Similar community content Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. 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[English](/en/answer/are-there-certified-therapists-who-specialize-in-helping-survivors-of-grooming-and-sexual-abuse-violence-ive-been-trying-to-find-someone-who-can-help-me-make-sense-of-my-trauma-from-experiences-that-h)[Español](/es/answer/are-there-certified-therapists-who-specialize-in-helping-survivors-of-grooming-and-sexual-abuse-violence-ive-been-trying-to-find-someone-who-can-help-me-make-sense-of-my-trauma-from-experiences-that-h)[日本語](/ja/answer/are-there-certified-therapists-who-specialize-in-helping-survivors-of-grooming-and-sexual-abuse-violence-ive-been-trying-to-find-someone-who-can-help-me-make-sense-of-my-trauma-from-experiences-that-h) For immediate help, visit {{resource}} Made with in Raleigh, NC | Read our [Community Guidelines](https://www.ourwave.org/en/community-guidelines), [Privacy Policy](https://www.ourwave.org/en/privacy), and [Terms](https://www.ourwave.org/en/terms) | [ #### Resources ](/en/resources) ### Post a Message Share a message of support with 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Name the following out loud: 5 – things you can see (you can look within the room and out of the window) 4 – things you can feel (what is in front of you that you can touch?) 3 – things you can hear 2 – things you can smell 1 – thing you like about yourself. Take a deep breath to end. From where you are sitting, look around for things that have a texture or are nice or interesting to look at. Hold an object in your hand and bring your full focus to it. Look at where shadows fall on parts of it or maybe where there are shapes that form within the object. Feel how heavy or light it is in your hand and what the surface texture feels like under your fingers (This can also be done with a pet if you have one). Take a deep breath to end. Ask yourself the following questions and answer them out loud: 1\. Where am I? 2\. What day of the week is today? 3\. What is today’s date? 4\. What is the current month? 5\. What is the current year? 6\. How old am I? 7\. What season is it? Take a deep breath to end. Put your right hand palm down on your left shoulder. Put your left hand palm down on your right shoulder. Choose a sentence that will strengthen you. For example: “I am powerful.” Say the sentence out loud first and pat your right hand on your left shoulder, then your left hand on your right shoulder. Alternate the patting. Do ten pats altogether, five on each side, each time repeating your sentences aloud. Take a deep breath to end. Cross your arms in front of you and draw them towards your chest. With your right hand, hold your left upper arm. With your left hand, hold your right upper arm. Squeeze gently, and pull your arms inwards. Hold the squeeze for a little while, finding the right amount of squeeze for you in this moment. Hold the tension and release. Then squeeze for a little while again and release. Stay like that for a moment. Take a deep breath to end. Try another grounding activity I feel grounded and ready