How Charlie Health Supports Survivors of Sexual Trauma

Learn about Charlie Health’s personalized, trauma-informed treatment to support survivors of sexual trauma — and its efficacy.

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Research consistently shows that a history of sexual violence is a major risk factor for serious mental health issues, such as substance use disorder (SUD), depression, anxiety, eating disorders, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), and suicidal ideation. This is particularly true for children and young people who experience sexual trauma due to an increased risk of permanent changes in brain structure and function. 

Unfortunately, though, sexual violence is common — especially among young people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over half of women and 1 in 3 men experience unwanted sexual contact in their lifetimes. For female survivors of sexual assault, 4 in 5 were first assaulted before age 25 —  nearly half as minors. For male survivors of sexual assault, 8 in 10 were first assaulted before age 25, with 4 in 10 being minors.

Given that the rates of childhood sexual violence have not abated over time, further action must be taken to identify and treat sexual trauma in youth — a cornerstone of treatment at Charlie Health. Read on to learn more about the unique systems Charlie Health has to support survivors of sexual trauma and the results of our personalized, intensive treatment for survivors.

How Charlie Health treats sexual trauma

At Charlie Health, we recognize the profound impact of sexual trauma on mental health and well-being. Our virtual IOP offers 9-11 hours of therapeutic services each week — including individual, family, and group sessions — designed to provide comprehensive support. 

All of our services are trauma-informed and utilize evidence-based interventions for trauma-related conditions, including somatic experiencing, psychoeducation, grounding techniques, and more. This structured support helps clients navigate their trauma while fostering resilience and healing.

Also, when clients enter the program, we screen them for mental health symptoms, including trauma symptoms. This data helps us tailor groups to meet each client’s unique needs, ensuring clients are matched with others who share similar life experiences.

Data: Results of Charlie Health’s sexual trauma treatment 

Every client at Charlie Health undergoes an intake process that includes a detailed trauma history, from which we collect data to follow client trends, produce publications, and improve the quality of care. Recently, researchers reviewed intake data from 3,000 clients, just about one-third of whom (1,000) reported a history of sexual trauma or violence (defined as unwanted sexual contact). Here is some key demographic data from clients reporting sexual violence: 

• About two-thirds of Charlie Health clients who identify as women report experiencing sexual violence (62.6%) 
• About one in seven Charlie Health clients who identify as men report experiencing sexual violence (13.8%)
• The majority of sexual violence victims in treatment are non-Hispanic (51.7%) or Caucasian (71.5%)

Compared to the average Charlie Health client with no history of sexual trauma, clients with a history of sexual trauma start the program struggling with increased severity of anxiety symptoms and self-harm. In other words, sexually traumatized clients experience an average increase of 1.25 points on the GAD-7 anxiety scale and approximately one day more of self-harm in a given week at intake. Additionally, this group experiences approximately one more day of work or school missed than the average client. 

However, clients with sexual trauma reported that depression symptoms and higher-level-of-care admits prior to Charlie Health (such as partial hospitalization, inpatient, or emergency room visits) were not significantly different from those without sexual trauma. 

After treatment at Charlie Health, clients with a history of sexual trauma reported significantly improved symptoms both statistically and clinically (see below). Clients with a history of sexual trauma started treatment with higher levels of anxiety, self-harm, and missed work or school compared to others. However, they improved faster and finished treatment with similar outcomes as their peers, data shows. This indicates that Charlie Health’s virtual IOP has been effective in treating sexual trauma and its related symptoms.

Sexual violence prevention strategies

Preventing sexual violence requires a comprehensive and proactive approach that addresses the root causes and systemic issues surrounding this pervasive problem. By fostering a culture that prioritizes respect and safety, we can empower individuals and communities to take action against sexual violence and support survivors. Here are key prevention strategies that have shown promise in creating safer environments.

1. Invest in early prevention programs

Researchers have found that programs emphasizing empathy, emotional regulation, and social norms that challenge sexual violence, as well as those promoting dating safety and healthy intimacy, are effective in reducing instances of sexual violence. Also, youth programming like Green Dot, Bringing in the Bystander, Safe Dates, and more have shown a decrease in dating violence and unsafe sexual practices in schools and college campuses. 

2. Support policy changes and environmental protections 

Data has shown that increased protections in work and school environments (such as enforcing zero-tolerance policies for sexual harassment, enforcing building-based restraining orders, advocating for moderation and/or abstention of alcohol use in young adults) have an inverse effect on sexual harassment and stalking. Researchers also advocate for more serious changes in policy, such as more stringent laws protecting victims, improved resource allocation for investigation, and improved socio-economic progress for women in an effort to reduce domestic violence and increase prosecution of sex crimes.

3. Provide survivors with trauma-informed care 

Data consistently shows that trauma-informed treatment modalities are the primary strategy for victim recovery. These modalities can include trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and prolonged exposure therapy. 

If you or a loved one is struggling with sexual trauma, Charlie Health is here to help. Charlie Health’s virtual IOP provides more than once-weekly mental health treatment for young people and families. Our expert clinicians incorporate evidence-based therapies into individual counseling, family therapy, and group sessions. We also offer psychiatric services as needed. With this kind of holistic treatment, managing sexual trauma is possible. Fill out the form below or give us a call to start healing today.