12. The Resourcing Series, Part 1; Professional Support

Oct 11, 2019

8 min read

Updated: Oct 18, 2023

It's a great day to talk over a cup of tea.

**Please note: In this post, I do not write about specific traumas. I never write any explicit details.**

Why Professionals?

In an earlier post, I listed several categories of support, including self-directed, community, and professional, that can be resources to survivors of sexual trauma. There is a specific reason why I've chosen to begin elaborating first on professional support, rather than the other two categories. Sexual trauma results in a variety of complex injuries, and while all people may be able to recognize that, not all of us are equipped to best support survivors of sexual trauma to the extent of the potential damage. There are, however, professionals who have made it their life's work to specifically support survivors of traumas. The bulk of this post references the field of mental health supports and work with counselors, but I also strongly believe that the type of support we may require extends beyond our thoughts and emotions, which is why I count a variety of professional healers among potential resources for survivors of sexual trauma.

Why would I pay a stranger to help me with my problems? I've heard a lot of people ask this question, and I get that for some people, the thought of talking with a new person about super painful memories, extremely private feelings, distressing physical symptoms, or deeply personal challenges seems off-putting, strange, and uncomfortable. For starters, if you don't feel like you can talk to people you already know, how could you imagine talking to people you don't know? For another thing, if you don't know these people, why should you trust them? And prohibitively, it requires finances that are not available to everyone, so how is it even possible?

I can't convince anyone to seek out something unwanted, but I can provide my perspective about what seeking supportive services from trained professionals has been like for me. I am happy to write that there are a lot of methods that have aided my healing, including Counseling, Naturopathy, Ortho-Bionomy, Intuitive Guidance, Chakra Healing, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shamanic Support, Reiki, and Nutritional Science. Some of these methods can be mental or emotional in nature, while others are physical, and still others are energetic. Though not a practitioner myself, I can share my perceptions of what motivates such healers, my mindset in seeking them out, and the ways that I have been able to access a lot more services than I might have originally thought possible.

New People

This could seem counterintuitive to those who cannot fathom talking to strangers about their problems, but for me, there's a certain freedom in talking to a person who doesn't otherwise know me. There are no preconceived notions about who I am, how I'm supposed to be, how I have failed, or where I am lacking. And if that list doesn't give you an indicator of where my brain goes when I'm not doing well, I'll summarize by saying that healers don't reinforce my insecurities about myself. Basically, I start off with a clean slate with them. And a person is only a stranger before you meet. After that point, it's someone you know.

Also, there are no histories of hurts from which we would need to recover from before growth could take place. That's actually a lot more crucial for me than about any other factor. As a person with a trauma history, I often find that my memories of and responses to trauma can find their way into my perceptions about my present reality. Frustratingly, this means that actions by those in my life that I trust can sometimes be misread by my body as indicators of danger. Professional healers exist outside of these regular relationships in my life and can thus help me untangle the jungle I sometimes find myself caught up within. This doesn't mean that I am immune to misperceiving their actions. Sometimes, they have set off my alarm bells, and it's then crucial to do intentional work with them to dismantle harmful messages which seeped into our work together. It also doesn't mean that every healing guide will always lead me in my right direction. There have been mismatches, and when that has happened, I've found different practitioners to work with. I've recognized that not all healing modalities will be the best fit for me, so it's critical to go with what feels right.

Eventually, if I continue to work with a specialist, the therapeutic relationship can be furthered as they learn more about me, but even then, they don't risk becoming intermixed within my personal problems since they aren't members of my family, or a part of my every day life. These healers become people that I trust, much as I trust friends, yet they always also maintain the type of separation from me that puts them in more of a mentor category. They are the ones with wisdom whom I'm seeking advice from. Many times, they are wise enough to recognize that in order for my healing to develop, I must tap into my own wisdom to direct a path forward. That is a beautiful occurrence which absolutely empowers me and reminds me that my mentors cannot do the healing work for me, but they can walk with me as I work on my own healing.

Trust

Many people with careers in the healing arts have chosen their vocations for very intentional reasons. They may have been oriented toward helping, and found a path that they believe may benefit others. They may have experienced healing in their lives through one of these modalities, which may have inspired them to pursue study in that field. And they may care passionately about the type of healing potential afforded through their line of work. In other words, the majority of healing professionals are doing work they deeply believe in and care about.

For most healing occupations, a great deal of study and commitment is required of those who wish to become practitioners in their specialties. They are not just random people deciding that their enjoyment of talking to people somehow makes them counselors, or their appreciation of herbs qualifies them to prepare prescriptions. They are students who have devoted a great deal of their time, energy, and mental power to understanding their discipline, honing technique, and developing expertise in their lines of healing work.

One of the things I love most about seeking support from healing masters is that they have a skillset that no one else in my life can provide. They bring a different perspective to addressing situations within my life. For some modalities, it's a connection to my emotions, attending to my energetic flow, or expressing my creativity. Meanwhile, there are other methods that attend to my body system, spirit, and soul medicine. Generally, each of the types of fortification I have sought from healing authorities attends to different aspects of my wellbeing. These are often areas of my life that I might be able to discuss with friends, but having the extra benefit of guidance from specialists further enriches my connection to these areas.

Finances

If I suggested going to every type of healer I've mentioned all at once, that would be both a lot of personal work to attend to and also a lot of money. The types of services that healing experts offer are extremely valuable, and it makes perfect sense that people who have chosen those career paths should be compensated for the integral work they do in the world. If it was possible for them to be properly compensated for their work and for all of us to seek their assistance without financial concern, that would be ideal, but that's not the state of things in this country. As it is, if we want the benefit of their knowledge, most of us will need to pay for it.

Sliding scales exist in some of these fields, in addition to discount options for purchasing packages. Sometimes, there are a certain number of scholarship slots available at free or reduced rates. Some modalities host a free day or a reduced payment option once a week or once a month. Group counseling style classes may have lower costs than one-on-one therapy. If you are interested in exploring what healing modalities can provide, it's worth doing some research and inquiring with practices about if they render anything along those lines or if they are aware of other organizations within the community that might be more financially accessible.

If costs are a concern, I'd suggest choosing one healing realm at a time. That way, you may still be able to eventually seek assistance from a variety of modalities without going broke in the process. If finances truly prevent you from seeking professional services, I suggest focusing on free options, such as mental health programs provided through Medicaid partnerships. Domestic abuse shelters often provide counseling for most people with a history of sexual trauma, and this can be a fantastic asset for survivors. If the thought of going anywhere to speak about what happened is just too much for you at the moment, remember that 24 hour hotlines devoted to survivors are always a call away.

Intensive And Intentional Healing Work

Many of these healing modalities can include healing workshops or retreats. These facilitated groups can offer additional healing opportunities within community settings. They are geared toward particular healing modalities and each person is expected to be working toward personal healing, but in a group setting, this can include the chance to witness and encourage each other along our journeys. There's something to be said for the type of energy that can be shared within these settings. I have often been reminded that I am not alone, felt intense compassion for the journeys of my companions, and both encouraged others and received their encouragement. I have been able to witness that even if what other people are going through is not the same exact thing as what I am going through, I feel bolstered and inspired by knowing that they are working toward healing from their pain as well.

Success

At a certain point, I recognized that the extent of my wounds extended beyond simple, and that if I wanted to find my way out, I would need to seek those who have followed a calling to be of assistance to people such as myself. I have sought out many types of healing modalities through the years to support my recovery after sexual trauma. These guides have helped me to attend to various aspects of my healing, supported me in finding my balance, and aided me in removing layers of my trauma. I can only attest to what has been of benefit to me, but I think it's entirely possible that other survivors might find resources in similar practices. I wish every survivor an abundance of access to professional resources, discernment in selecting modalities that are best suited to individual needs, and tremendous progress within healing journeys.

#MeToo

#MentalHealthSupport