Photo of Melba Natasha Sanchez, Clinical Social Work/Therapist in Charleston, WV
Melba Natasha Sanchez
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LIMHP, LICSW
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Charleston, WV 25301  (Online Only)
M. Natasha Sanchez, MSW, LIMHP, LICSW, is a community based therapist providing services to those seeking to improve their relationships with others, change or eliminate troubling behaviors and habits, improve their control over mood and anxiety, perform better at school or work, adjust to difficult life events/transitions, and those who simply wish to gain insight into their personal past in order to welcome a bright and more honest future. Natasha's orientation to counseling is relationship based (collaborative), flexible, respectful and confidential.
M. Natasha Sanchez, MSW, LIMHP, LICSW, is a community based therapist providing services to those seeking to improve their relationships with others, change or eliminate troubling behaviors and habits, improve their control over mood and anxiety, perform better at school or work, adjust to difficult life events/transitions, and those who simply wish to gain insight into their personal past in order to welcome a bright and more honest future. Natasha's orientation to counseling is relationship based (collaborative), flexible, respectful and confidential.
(402) 307-6101 View (402) 307-6101
Photo of Tim Whetzel, Marriage & Family Therapist in Charleston, WV
Tim Whetzel
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Charleston, WV 25301  (Online Only)
“Midway along the journey of our life I woke to find myself in a dark wood, for I had wandered off from the straight path." This sentence encapsulates the feelings many clients bring to therapy, the culmination of years of existential angst, an accumulation of guilt, anxiety, loss, among a myriad of other experiences which have inflicted pain and suffering. My experience working with clients in exploring their unique symptoms, be it depression, anxiety, etc., is to not rush headlong into an immediate remedy of the symptoms, rather the exploration of how these symptoms may be trying to inform in new ways of approaching life.
“Midway along the journey of our life I woke to find myself in a dark wood, for I had wandered off from the straight path." This sentence encapsulates the feelings many clients bring to therapy, the culmination of years of existential angst, an accumulation of guilt, anxiety, loss, among a myriad of other experiences which have inflicted pain and suffering. My experience working with clients in exploring their unique symptoms, be it depression, anxiety, etc., is to not rush headlong into an immediate remedy of the symptoms, rather the exploration of how these symptoms may be trying to inform in new ways of approaching life.
(681) 201-3324 View (681) 201-3324

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Sexual Abuse Therapists

How do therapists treat sexual abuse?

A good therapist will be nonjudgmental and possibly demonstrate active listening, repeating back what the client says to show that they have understood. These skills allow people to feel comfortable discussing their traumatic experiences openly. Some important treatment goals are to restore a sense of safety and to rebuild confidence. In addition to working one-on-one with the patient, a therapist might bring in supportive family members to assist the client.

Do you have to talk extensively about sexual abuse in therapy?

Survivors frequently find it difficult to describe what happened to them out loud. They can even still be in a state of denial if the sexual abuse occurred recently. It is important for survivors to acknowledge that what happened isn’t their fault and to challenge and reappraise any unhealthy feelings or thoughts as they arise. Art therapy and play therapy are useful non-verbal means of communication for some survivors.

How long does treatment for sexual abuse take?

Recovery from sexual abuse can be a long and difficult process. Some survivors are able to move on naturally on their own, given time, while others require the guidance of a trained therapist. Therapy needs vary and can range from a few sessions to months or even years. Healing from sexual abuse takes time, and everyone’s journey will look a little different.

Can trauma symptoms caused by sexual abuse come back after treatment?

As occurs in many cases of trauma, survivors of sexual abuse may experience PTSD-like symptoms long after the abuse has ceased or after an initial round of treatment has occurred. In such a case, there is evidence that prolonged exposure therapy is a useful treatment for survivors, and may be more efficacious than supportive counseling alone. While triggers may continue to cause distress, the idea is that, with time and repeated exposure, their power will fade, allowing survivors to move on with their lives.