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Local Organization Funds Trauma Therapy for Sexual Trauma Survivors

March 5, 2025 | Staff Reporters

For a woman who has experienced the unthinkable, the effects of trauma can be completely debilitating, preventing her from maintaining healthy relationships, holding a job, functioning as a wife or mother, or living a full, productive life. In many cases, professional trauma therapy is the only way to untangle all the complex, involuntarily emotional responses triggered by the trauma experienced by survivors of human trafficking, sexual assault, sexual exploitation or abuse.

However, trauma therapy is costly. Individual sessions with an experienced trauma therapist are typically a hundred dollars or more, done on a weekly or biweekly schedule. And it can take years of therapy to work through all the layers of trauma responses a victim may be experiencing, depending on the degree and complexity of the trauma. For a woman without insurance or significant resources, getting the help she needs to heal from her trauma can be completely out of her reach.

This is where Set Free Foundation can help. Women who need therapy to heal from sexual trauma, but can not afford it, can find a therapist they are comfortable with and the therapist can apply to Set Free Foundation for funding for their client. The therapist bills Set Free for the sessions.

UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH

A lot has been discovered in the last few decades about the brain’s response to trauma. The application of new techniques of brain imaging has opened up a whole new understanding of the chemical and physical changes the brain undergoes when a person experiences trauma. Research has verified trauma literally re-wires of some of the neuro-pathways in the brain which results in a variety symptoms experienced by a trauma victim. These symptoms can include but are not limited to insomnia, panic attacks, depression, lethargy, brain fog, hyper vigilance or uncontrollable rage. It is quite possible for an emotionally healthy, productive person to become incapacitated and unable to function due to the damage done to the brain from experiencing trauma in her life.

The effects of trauma rarely go away on their own, but compound over time. A sexual assault or molestation that occurred even years or decades ago, and was suppressed by the victim, can result in debilitating mental health issues later in life. These issues exist not because the person is not strong enough to “get over it” but because her brain has been physically altered by trauma and does not function the same way it did before the trauma.

Trauma victims typically have a hard time understanding their own behavior. They know something isn’t right but they can’t explain it and don’t know how to change it. Often, they place the blame on themselves for their struggles or fail to associate their mental health issues with the trauma they experienced. That’s why treatment by an experienced trauma therapist is so important. Trauma therapy helps the person understand how their experiences have impacted them, how their brain functions have been altered and develop tools to cope with their trauma responses and gradually realign their thoughts and emotions so they can gain control of their lives again.

CLIENTS SERVED BY SET FREE FOUNDATION

Over the last 12 months, Set Free Foundation has provided funding for over 80 hours of trauma therapy and have committed to providing another 89 hours so far into 2025.

This is what one client said about Set Free Foundation:

I am a survivor of daily physical, sexual, and emotional abuse that began when I was 4 years old and continued for 10 long years. For over 20 years, I did whatever it took to appear normal to the outside world, all the while my heart and mind were tormented by the memories of the abuse. Eventually, I was forced to face the fact I needed help and sought out therapy.

I was receiving therapy through a grant and making progress with my healing. Then toward the end of 2023, I suddenly received news that funding had run out and I would no longer be able to continue therapy.

This left me feeling defeated and ready to give up all hope. Then my husband and I discovered Set Free foundation! Set Free made it possible for me to continue seeing the same therapist with whom I had established a good rapport.

The healing process takes a long time, but I am definitely making progress! Set Free came to my rescue at just the right time and I am eternally grateful for the blessing they have been to me!

CONTACT INFORMATION

If you are a sexual trauma survivor or know someone who is and cannot afford therapy, you can contact Set Free Foundation at setfreefoundation@gmail.com or 850-463-5191.

Set Free Foundation is an all-volunteer, registered 501c3 organization and accepts monetary donations to fund trauma therapy for sexual trauma survivors.

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