Sexual Abuse or Assault

In addition to working clinically with survivors of sexual abuse and assault, I am a Staff Trainer for MVP Strategies, a gender violence prevention program founded by Jackson Katz, PhD., utilizing the Bystander Approach. I have worked for over 10 years training individuals in the US Military, the entertainment industry, college and university athletic programs, and community groups to recognize and intervene in sexual violence in their immediate cultural contexts.

I come from a forensic background in which I worked largely with victims of sexual trauma. I am well versed in trauma psychology, and provide clients with an empathetic and non-judgmental environment in which to process trauma reactions at their own pace in a manner that is supportive and knowledgable.

Healing from sexual trauma takes time, but you don’t have to do it alone. I provide a safe, compassionate space to process your experience, rebuild trust in yourself and others, and reclaim your sense of safety and empowerment.

The number of folks who have experienced sexual abuse or assault is unfortunately much higher than the general public realizes. I have frequently been the only person a survivor has told about their experience, and I do not take that privilege for granted. I hope to help cultivate a sense of safety, security, and empowerment in the work we do. Let's work together on battling shame and stigma and reclaim your body and identity.

I am a certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR can look very different from traditional talk therapy. I work to integrate talk therapy processing and EMDR together. It is considered the “gold standard” treatment for traumatic episodes and PTSD. Evidence shows it is also effective in the treatment of: phobias, philias, addiction, grief and loss, attachment disorders, depression, anxiety, etc. My niche' is sexual trauma combining my two specialties.

Left untreated, the wounds of incest/childhood sexual abuse can permeate every area of your life as an adult. You might be silently plagued with nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and feeling like something bad is going to happen at any minute. Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and maintaining the shame-based belief that the abuse was somehow your fault are all common reactions in adulthood. Know your healing is possible and that you deserve to heal.

All forms of trauma can cause excruciating symptoms. Trauma perpetrated by other people, especially when sexual in nature, comes with its own particular challenges. I spent over four years working exclusively with survivors of sexual trauma and can bring extensive training and experience to the conversation. If past trauma is still infringing upon your present, you deserve to have space and support for healing.

I have experience working with male survivors of childhood sexual abuse and the confusing consequences of this unique type of abuse. Often, male survivors of sexual abuse struggle with intimacy, relationships, perfectionism, codependency, identity, dissociation, self sabotage, and overall boundary complications across different relationships. I can support you in the process of developing a treatment plan and following through to address your individual concerns step by step.

Sexual trauma can really shake us to our core. Living in a sexist world after a trauma can be overwhelming as a woman. Toxic masculinity is prevalent in both work and home life – creating complex triggers in unlikely places. As our awareness of these intersections between trauma and sexism increase, we may feel up in arms, ready to start a revolution! But we need to take exquisite care of ourselves first or else we are left feeling overwhelmed, drained and hopeless. After a sexual trauma we often wonder – can we ever feel beautiful, sexual, and/or feminine again and still feel safe? Can we trust others – or even ourselves – again? The answer is a resounding yes. Through a multi-modal approach that infuses relational, experiential and body-oriented approaches I help clients overcome trauma, create healthy boundaries, increase resilience, reclaim their sense of self and create the lives they wish to lead.

I evaluate individuals accused (true or false allegations) of sexual abuse or assault, including child sexual abuse. I prepare comprehensive, detailed reports for defense attorneys, court officials, probation and parole officers, etc. I am especially passionate about turning around false sexual abuse allegations. When the allegations are correct, I look for mitigating circumstances, and I conduct risk assessments to help determine if the accused is a good candidate for probation or parole. I also provide treatment for actual sex offenders. I prepare very detailed, comprehensive evaluations in these cases and I am prepared to testify in court to back up my findings and recommendations.

I am trained in several trauma-informed strategies. I currently hold certification in Complex PTSD and Trauma (CCPT) Levels I and II, which incorporates EMDR, Parts Work (IFS), CPT, and Polyvagal Theory. I am well-versed in Emotional Freedom Tapping (EFT), DBT, CBT, Family Systems, Somatic Psychology, and the impact of trauma on the brain.

When you have experienced sexual trauma, it is crucial to work with someone who understands the complexity and depth of how your life and sense of yourself can be impacted. I work with you to begin the process of feeling safer in your body and in your relationships, to regain confidence and trust with those around you and with yourself. I create a caring, non-judgmental place where I bring many years of training in body-based trauma healing approaches, mindfulness, and relationship focus.

Sexual abuse can have an impact on almost every aspect of a person's functioning. It is sometimes hard to start the work to heal from sexual abuse, but our work together will assist you in discovering a life beyond the sexual abuse.

After surviving sexual assault, you may feel numb and disconnected from the world or you might feel overwhelmed by emotion. I use EMDR (rapid eye movement) therapy and other techniques to help you reprocess traumatic memories to reduce debilitating trauma symptoms like “flashbacks,” panic attacks, and feeling on edge. When you no longer have that gut-wrenching feeling of fear when you’re reminded of your trauma, you’re able to make clearer decisions, feel calmer, and connect with others safely.

With over a quarter century & 40k hours of expert treatment for all types of sexual misbehaviors provided, I give you an evidence based, research oriented treating of “sex addiction”, Out of Control Sexual Behavior, App Hook-Ups, Strip Clubs, Massage Parlors, compulsivity, Professional Sexual Misconduct, serial affairs, porn, as a Certified sexual misbehavior professional. James Foley LCSW 60 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10165 718-208-6135 www.sexuallycompulsive.com

Many people I work with have experienced childhood sexual abuse. If specific memories are not available, we work with felt sense and any memories that may present as we do the work. Treatment modalities include EMDR, focused mindfulness, Ego State/parts work and embodied skills practices.

With over a quarter century & 40k hours of expert treatment for all types of sexual misbehaviors provided, I give you an evidence based, research oriented treating of “sex addiction”, Out of Control Sexual Behavior, App Hook-Ups, Strip Clubs, Massage Parlors, compulsivity, Professional Sexual Misconduct, serial affairs, as a Certified sexual misbehavior professional. James Foley LCSW 60 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10165 718-208-6135 www.sexuallycompulsive.com

I have worked extensively with people who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. I utilize DBT skills training, EMDR and Somatic Experiencing in order to assist people with healing through these past experiences.

I am especially sensitive to the survivors of Sexual Abuse and Assault, with concerns including but not limited to: Boundaries and Trust; Familial Trauma; Domestic Violence and Relationship Issues; Sexual Violence; Shame; Pleasure; PTSD; Working through Pain vs. Pleasure; Recurring Dreams and Nightmares; Reporting or Not-Reporting; Creating a Personal Sexuality; Early Sexual Experience; Processing of Trauma - Putting Words to the Experience(s); Relationship Patterns; Fear; Reclamation of Self

I have worked with sexual violence survivors in some capacity since 2013. I operate from an empowerment model and I hope to create a therapeutic space where you can explore the ways in which sexual trauma has impacted your day-to-day AND learn how to reclaim your space and agency in the world. This includes exploring sexuality and pleasure if those are things you want. I believe all survivors deserve access to safe, pleasurable sex at all stages of their recovery.