Sexual Abuse Trauma Psychologist Melbourne

Sexual trauma survivors commonly experience:

• Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares
• Avoiding reminders — people, places, sensations, or conversations
• Intense shame, guilt, or self-blame — even though the abuse was not their fault
• Feeling ‘dirty’, worthless, or permanently damaged
• Difficulty feeling safe — in relationships, in their body, or in the world
• Emotional numbing or disconnection from their own experience

Approximately one in five Australian women and one in twenty men have experienced sexual assault since age 15 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2023). The majority never disclose to anyone.

Sexual trauma — particularly when repeated, in childhood, or by someone known to the survivor — often produces complex trauma responses that require careful, phased psychological treatment (Herman, 1992). Shame is a particularly central and treatment-relevant feature of sexual abuse trauma.

Effective treatment:

• Prioritises safety, stabilisation, and trauma-informed relationship before processing
• Addresses the pervasive shame and self-blame that characterise sexual abuse trauma
• Processes traumatic memories to reduce their distress and intrusiveness
• Rebuilds body safety and a positive relationship with the self and others
• Addresses sexual functioning and intimacy where relevant — at your pace and by your choice

Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR are both recommended as first-line treatments for PTSD following sexual assault by international guidelines (Watkins et al., 2018).

WorkCover, NDIS or TAC approved? YOU PAY NOTHING.
If your claim has been approved, we bill your funder directly. Zero out-of-pocket cost — no gap, no upfront payment, nothing.

• WorkCover approved — $0 out of pocket, we bill directly
• NDIS plan-managed or self-managed — $0 out of pocket, we bill directly
• TAC claim approved — $0 out of pocket, we bill directly
• DVA — Gold Card holders are fully covered with no session cap (clinically justified). White Card holders covered for accepted conditions, plus all current/former ADF members can access fully-funded psychology for any mental-health condition under NLMHT. GP referral required.
• Medicare rebate (Mental Health Care Plan) — rebates same-day or next day
• Private Health Insurance — itemised invoice provided
• No funding / self-pay — affordable rates from $50 per session, no referral needed

Our psychologists are trained in a wide range of evidence-based approaches across many presentations. Browse our full directory of conditions and therapies we work with.