Written By: Lizbeth Rios, Licensed Social Worker

During the month of April Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is recognized. It is a time dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence, supporting survivors, and strengthening our collective commitment to prevention. Sexual violence is any type of unwanted sexual contact, including actions or behaviors that violate a person’s boundaries, autonomy, or sense of safety that can leave lasting emotional, physical, and psychological impacts on survivors. This month serves as a reminder that sexual violence affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and communities and that creating safer environments is a responsibility we all share. April invites us not only to acknowledge the reality of sexual violence but also to take meaningful steps toward healing, accountability, and lasting change.

Looking Back, Moving Forward 

This years’ SAAM’s theme “Looking Back, Moving Forward” honors the history and growth of the movement while reaffirming our commitment to a safer future for all. SAAM began as a grassroots movement by survivors and advocates who refused to remain silent in the face of injustice. The roots of this movement stretch back generations: 

  • 1866: Black women survivors were among the first to break the silence around sexual violence, testifying before Congress about the abuse they experienced during the Memphis Riots. 
  • 1944: Rosa Parks supported Recy Taylor, a Black woman in Alabama who was abducted and assaulted, by organizing a nationwide campaign that included rallies and boycotts to demand justice. 
  • 1970s: The women’s rights movement brought increased attention to gender-based violence through marches and public demonstrations. 
  • 1978: The National Coalition Against Sexual Assault was established to advocate for policies that support survivors.
  • 1994: The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was passed, marking a major federal investment in prevention efforts, survivor services, and legal protections. 
  • 2006: Activist Tarana Burke introduced the phrase “Me Too,” which later grew into a global movement amplifying survivors’ voices worldwide. 

Supporting Survivors

The movement continues today, and as a community, there are meaningful ways we can support survivors:

  • Believe survivors. When someone shares their experience, your response matters. Simply saying “I believe you” and offering your support can help them feel seen, heard, and less alone. 
  • Challenge myths and victim-blaming. Speak up when you hear harmful misconceptions or language that shifts blame onto survivors. Changing these narratives helps create a more supportive culture. 
  • Respect their choices. Survivors should be in control of what happens next—whether that means making a report to the police department, seeking an order of protection, going to therapy, or choosing not to take action right away. 
  • Listen with care. When survivors feel heard, believed, and supported, it can help restore a sense of trust and control. 

Supporting survivors doesn’t require having all the answers. Showing up with empathy, respect, and a willingness to listen can make a lasting impact. 


Beginning Your Healing Journey

Sexual assault can have both immediate and long term impacts. Survivors may experience physical effects such as injuries, concerns about pregnancy, or the risk of sexually transmitted infections. The psychological effects include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, feelings of isolation amongst others. Sexual violence is deeply traumatizing, and many survivors spend years navigating its effects. Talking about these experiences with someone you trust can be an important step in the healing process. However opening up about sexual violence can be a difficult experience to share therefore the survivor has the right to decide if, when, and how to disclose their experience. 

At SAVI Therapy Group, we are here to support by offering trauma informed care and therapeutic approaches tailored to your healing journey. Our clinicians use evidence-based interventions to help survivors process trauma, build coping skills, and restore a sense of safety and control. Some of the approaches we offer include: 

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): A widely used, evidence‑based therapy that helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they become less distressing. 
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Originally developed for emotion regulation and self‑harm behaviors, DBT is helpful for survivors who experience intense emotions, dissociation or difficulty with relationships after trauma. 
  • Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE): PE helps survivors gradually and safely confront trauma memories and situations they avoid. This reduces fear, hypervigilance, and trauma related distress over time.
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): A structured evidence‑based therapy for adults that focuses on helping survivors challenge unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma (such as self‑blame) and reduce PTSD symptoms. 

Sexual Assault Awareness Month serves as an important reminder of the impact of sexual violence and the need for ongoing awareness and support. While April is dedicated to elevating these conversations, the responsibility does not end when the month is over. Supporting survivors, challenging harmful beliefs, and promoting safety and respect must be a commitment we carry throughout the entire year. Lasting change happens through consistent actions to create an environment where consent and safety are prioritized every day. 

References